[0:37] Okay, testing.

[0:38] >> Testing one, two, three. Testing one,

[0:40] two, three.

[0:41] >> This is a test of the streaming system

[0:43] and its audio capabilities.

[38:01] » [snorts]

[38:01] >> Hey, are we ready team so we can get

[38:03] through tonight?

[38:04] >> Yeah, I'm good.

[38:05] >> Yeah, [laughter] just like No,

[38:08] everybody's perfect today actually.

[38:12] >> Yeah.

[38:13] [laughter]

[38:15] >> Okay. experiences though.

[38:18] >> I like them as a last return [laughter]

[38:20] PTSD.

[38:22] >> Well, I'm sorry.

[38:26] » It's all okay. It's August.

[38:30] >> You know, half the municipalities in

[38:31] British Columbia have stopped even

[38:33] meeting, I think, for the rest of the term until after the election, at

[38:36] least some of the big munis. So, really,

[38:38] >> having a meeting in August seems to be

[38:40] peculiar. Anyways, but here we are,

[38:42] August, our one meeting of the month,

[38:44] and it's a regular meeting. And I'd like

[38:46] to welcome everybody and call the

[38:48] meeting to order and acknowledge the

[38:49] land on which we gather is the

[38:50] traditional territory of the Taha, the

[38:53] Silks, and the Snags people, and is home

[38:55] to the Matey and many diverse Aboriginal

[38:56] persons. We honor their connection to

[38:58] the land and rivers and respect the

[39:00] importance of the environment to our

[39:01] strength as a community. I've received

[39:04] no late items before the meeting. So if

[39:05] I could ask for an adoption of the

[39:07] agenda circulated moved by councelor

[39:09] Lockenberg, seconded by councelor Payne.

[39:11] All those in favor opposed and that

[39:13] carries. There are no previous minutes

[39:16] to adopt at this meeting. So we will go

[39:18] [clears throat] right into item number

[39:19] six which is some workshops educational

[39:22] um session and we're going to start with

[39:25] a council code of conduct and then we'll

[39:26] be doing the council correspondence and

[39:28] action item list. And I would like to

[39:31] then ask uh Sarah to take the hot seat

[39:36] at the end of the room.

[39:40] [clears throat] Nope.

[39:47] » Hi everybody.

[39:48] >> Our communications person Stephanie.

[39:50] >> Yes. This is Stephanie, our

[39:52] communications coordinator, and she is

[39:55] joining me to talk to you guys about the

[39:59] communications during auction. So,

[40:02] [clears throat] basically, I've pulled

[40:04] um out of from the code of conduct

[40:09] bylaw. That's your bylaw. So today um I

[40:13] will pro provide a brief overview of

[40:16] communication expectations during the

[40:18] 2026 election period for the city of

[40:20] Nelson um from the council code of

[40:23] conduct bylaw. Um the purpose is not to

[40:26] limit legitimate communication about

[40:28] city business but to ensure

[40:32] um communications remain nonpartisan,

[40:35] respectful, accurate and clearly

[40:36] separated from election campaigning.

[40:40] Um election periods create an additional

[40:42] responsibilities for council members and

[40:45] appointees. [clears throat]

[40:47] The principles of integrity,

[40:49] accountability, respect, and

[40:50] transparency continue to apply. Uh our

[40:54] goal is to protect public trust and

[40:56] maintain a clear distinction between

[40:58] municipal governance and election

[40:59] activities.

[41:07] Um the first point to remember is that

[41:10] the code of conduct does not stop

[41:12] applying during um the election.

[41:16] In fact, additional communication

[41:18] restrictions are layered on top of the

[41:20] existing expectations. The campaign

[41:22] period begins 28 days before general

[41:25] voting day. So for the 2026 um local

[41:29] general election, that is September 19th

[41:32] through October 17th, which is general

[41:35] voting day, October 17th. Um during this

[41:38] period, members um and

[41:43] um must be especially mindful about how

[41:47] you communicate, what resources you use,

[41:50] and how you separate your official role

[41:52] from campaign activities.

[41:55] >> Councelor Payne has a question.

[41:57] >> So I guess that was my question. So

[41:59] members, that that's council

[42:03] >> counselors are the members that you're

[42:05] referring to here.

[42:06] >> Yep. uh to members, council members

[42:08] appointees

[42:10] >> and can you just give me an example of a

[42:11] council appointee?

[42:13] >> So anyone on the APC or the CDC? So the

[42:17] um cultural development committee or the

[42:18] housing committee or would be um

[42:22] sorry what ask me that again.

[42:25] >> I I'm just so a council appointee is

[42:28] someone who's on a city of Nelson

[42:31] committee. [clears throat]

[42:32] >> Yes.

[42:33] >> Okay. and the um

[42:35] >> uh advisory body members.

[42:39] >> So like the APC

[42:42] >> um

[42:44] >> library board

[42:46] uh

[42:47] >> so just the different committees have

[42:49] different designations as far as what

[42:51] their members are called.

[42:52] >> Yes. So, for example, um councelor

[42:55] Pinero is the council representative on

[42:58] the library board,

[43:01] [clears throat]

[43:02] >> but I'm also just a counselor.

[43:03] >> But you are a counselor.

[43:05] >> Well, we've also appointed Yeah.

[43:07] >> Yes. and separate people from

[43:10] counselor.

[43:12] >> So, we've appointed people. So, all

[43:15] members of the library board covered

[43:18] under the

[43:20] So,

[43:23] for

[43:23] >> I just want to make sure I'm clear on

[43:25] the definitions.

[43:26] >> Okay.

[43:27] >> It was the members that threw me because

[43:28] I didn't see counselors or mayor or

[43:30] counselor.

[43:32] >> You are as council considered a member

[43:35] of council. So, and this this

[43:39] presentation is speaking to appointees

[43:41] or members of council.

[43:43] >> Okay. And it would sorry it would apply

[43:45] if uh another member of the library

[43:48] board who's appointed perhaps would run

[43:50] for council then they have to

[43:51] differentiate between if they're talking

[43:53] with the library or they're talking

[43:54] about the election or whatever

[43:57] >> or Yes. And and just to go broader to

[44:00] that is um

[44:03] there is a member of the public that's

[44:06] running that's on the uh that intends to

[44:09] run that's on the police board and that it's even more restrictive there.

[44:14] So he's had to withdraw from any um

[44:18] police uh meetings.

[44:21] So he can't even attend um a meeting

[44:23] until after the election. So gets

[44:26] elected to council, then he's off.

[44:29] Doesn't get elected to council, then

[44:31] that person can continue on the police

[44:33] board. But right at the current time, um

[44:37] uh is not um a working member of the of

[44:41] the police board.

[44:44] >> What about staff who decide to run for

[44:47] council? They're in the same situation.

[44:49] They But they so they what would they be

[44:51] un under? Are they members,

[44:54] [clears throat] council appointees or

[44:56] >> they are this is specifically for

[44:59] council.

[45:00] >> Okay. So this that code of conduct

[45:02] doesn't

[45:02] >> So they well the code of conduct

[45:06] >> no [clears throat] the code of council's

[45:07] code of conduct is not applying to our

[45:09] >> thank you

[45:10] >> staff there they would be just like a

[45:13] other member of the um

[45:16] >> the candidate.

[45:17] >> Yeah. that other candidate that you know

[45:18] as far as you know we've certainly given

[45:21] directions from our staff you also

[45:24] represent the city of Nelson and you are

[45:27] not to you know you as a private citizen

[45:31] yes you could be advised you probably

[45:34] shouldn't um but you certainly on city

[45:37] time and just the perception that people

[45:40] know you're a city employee so you

[45:42] probably should not get involved in

[45:44] someone's campaign or or you

[45:47] [clears throat] know, we'd recommend not

[45:48] even to actively, you know, be

[45:50] campaigning for someone or promoting

[45:52] someone. Just because it's hard to, you

[45:56] know, separate those two hunts. It

[45:58] doesn't mean you can't. As long as it's

[46:01] clear you're not on city time talking to

[46:04] somebody in the lunchroom or or a

[46:06] citizen in the street or anything like

[46:08] that, if you are strictly um on in your

[46:12] off time, you can. We recommend you

[46:14] don't. But um

[46:15] >> I'm talking staff member running for

[46:18] council.

[46:18] >> If you ran then again when you're

[46:21] working for the city in Nelson, you

[46:22] can't be out campaigning on city time

[46:25] and and just right. But [clears throat]

[46:28] yes, you're [cough]

[46:30] >> and our policy is and our policy would

[46:32] be they they would have to if they were

[46:33] elected, they'd have to

[46:35] >> Yeah. Why resign? I don't know. Having

[46:38] an employee and a counselor.

[46:39] >> Yeah. I'm not sure.

[46:41] >> No, you cannot. You have to you have to

[46:43] take a leave of absence

[46:44] >> to run and then

[46:46] >> oh to run

[46:47] >> to run.

[46:48] >> Okay.

[46:49] >> And then a leave of absence to you can

[46:51] you make

[46:52] >> it would be in the contract.

[46:53] >> Yeah. Unionized contracts have to

[46:57] >> allowances for that

[46:58] >> leave of absences.

[47:00] So yeah, so the code of conduct.

[47:02] >> So that must [clears throat]

[47:03] >> as for council and appointees uh staff

[47:06] have their own you know they have their

[47:08] own sort of code of staff code of

[47:10] conduct that they adhere to.

[47:12] >> Thanks.

[47:15] >> Okay, we got that mostly clear.

[47:19] Okay. So, um the most important concept

[47:23] in the entire presentation that I'm

[47:25] giving is understanding the difference

[47:27] between city business and campaign

[47:29] activity.

[47:32] [clears throat]

[47:34] Um so, city business includes municipal

[47:37] services, programs, policies,

[47:39] operations, and official council

[47:41] decisions. Uh communications about

[47:44] legitimate city business can continue.

[47:47] uh campaign activity is different and

[47:49] you would refer to LEFA. So that is the

[47:53] act that you would refer to to make sure

[47:57] that what you're doing is is legitimate.

[48:00] Um campaign activity is different. It

[48:02] includes election related promotion,

[48:04] fundraising, endorsements, candidate

[48:06] support or communications intended to

[48:08] influence voting. The practical test is

[48:11] simple. If city resources are being

[48:14] used, ask whether the activity is

[48:17] genuinely municipal business or whether

[48:19] it benefits a campaign.

[48:23] Members should avoid using city staff,

[48:25] facilities, equipment, technology, and

[48:27] email systems.

[48:29] Other city funded resources for election

[48:31] purposes unless those same resources are

[48:34] equally available to all candidates.

[48:38] >> I I guess [clears throat] we would ask

[48:40] that, you know, particular through this

[48:43] time. If there's things that you want

[48:45] from, you know, questions you

[48:47] legitimately have for the work we're

[48:49] doing, then run them through myself or

[48:52] Sarah and don't go directly to staff

[48:55] and, you know, put them in that

[48:57] uncomfortable situation of trying to

[48:59] navigate what Sarah just said.

[49:02] [clears throat]

[49:05] » So, who speaks for the city? Um, role

[49:08] clarity becomes especially important

[49:10] during election season. Under

[49:12] [clears throat] the code, the mayor is

[49:13] the designated, this is exactly what

[49:15] you're talking about, I think, is the

[49:16] designated spokesperson for the city.

[49:19] Um, formal media and public inquiries

[49:21] regarding city business should generally

[49:23] be directed through the mayor or Kevin.

[49:27] Um, individual members are still

[49:29] entitled to express personal opinions.

[49:32] Um when doing so you must clearly

[49:35] indicate that you are speaking in a

[49:37] personal capacity um and not on behalf

[49:40] of the city. Accuracy is also critical

[49:44] um before speaking publicly about city

[49:47] matters. You should ensure information

[49:49] is complete, accurate, and not

[49:50] misleading. And that's why it's so

[49:52] important, one of the reasons why it's

[49:54] so important for you to either speak

[49:55] with the mayor or Kevin first and then

[49:57] it runs through Stephanie. and

[50:00] [clears throat] Stephanie will

[50:02] verify, confirm, make sure it's

[50:05] accurate.

[50:06] >> Connect the media inquiry with the

[50:09] either the subject matter expert or the

[50:11] person who can best speak to the

[50:13] specific issue um or direct back to to

[50:16] the CEO or the mayor.

[50:19] >> And can you give us an example?

[50:23] Um

[50:25] well I mean this morning uh someone from

[50:29] CBC reached out wanting to schedule an

[50:32] interview for tomorrow morning um to

[50:34] discuss something that's coming up

[50:36] tonight at the table and

[50:39] which was the right thing to do. He

[50:40] emailed me directly. Um, and then I set

[50:43] up a meeting. Um, but I know that,

[50:47] you know, we all the longer you do this

[50:49] job, the more kind of personal

[50:50] connections and communication you have

[50:53] uh, with people and so they do try to

[50:55] circumvent the um, official channels.

[50:58] That reporter also uh, texted the mayor

[51:01] [laughter and clears throat]

[51:02] just because I was in a meeting and

[51:03] didn't get back to him right away. So,

[51:05] that's an example of, you know, if they

[51:06] do reach out to you directly, which I

[51:08] know sometimes they do, and we have the

[51:09] forum on the website, um, you can always

[51:11] direct them back to me and then I can

[51:13] officially direct them to the person

[51:15] that they would need to be speaking to.

[51:19] >> Yeah, I get that part. I'm just trying

[51:20] to think.

[51:21] >> Yeah, I think the general rule was,

[51:22] yeah, if you direct it back to us before

[51:25] you put up your hand and say, I'm quite

[51:27] happy to talk to about that on behalf of

[51:29] the city. uh because even if you say you

[51:32] know it's hard to different like it's

[51:36] really hard to separate the two to say

[51:38] oh I'm this speaking to this as a you

[51:41] know a citizen or a elected official as

[51:44] long as it's really clear but if it's if it's not super clear that this is if

[51:50] you want me to talk as someone running

[51:52] for council which would be the same as

[51:55] anybody else running for council um but

[51:58] if they're saying you know whatever or

[52:00] something come up as Stephanie said a

[52:04] decision on on that you are going to

[52:07] make tonight and you were clearly acting

[52:09] on city business so you shouldn't be the

[52:11] spokesman for that thing and I guess

[52:14] during the election campaign we're not

[52:16] having council meetings so that's not

[52:19] going to happen but um you know they you

[52:22] know you just have to the safe thing is

[52:25] direct it back to us

[52:27] [clears throat]

[52:29] >> so media inquiries, I understand. But

[52:30] what about citizen inquiries? Is that

[52:32] the same thing?

[52:35] >> Again, if it's about city business, then

[52:38] it should be directed back to the city

[52:41] and we will uh address it. If it's um

[52:44] Leslie Payne, I'm a candidate for for

[52:47] this thing. What's your opinion on

[52:49] whatever u red bouncy balls? Then then

[52:54] you can uh answer that as a elector or

[52:57] as a campaign person. just or someone

[52:59] running just as somebody that's not on

[53:02] council can answer that same question.

[53:04] And um

[53:05] >> guess you need to make sure that you

[53:08] differentiate like I'm not answering

[53:09] this question as a counselor for the

[53:11] city of Nelson. I am answering it as a

[53:14] as part of my campaign as someone

[53:16] running for council to be reelected. So

[53:19] this is my personal opinion.

[53:21] >> Maybe the easiest thing is pretend you

[53:22] were not counseling. You're just

[53:24] campaigning, right? [laughter]

[53:27] >> Yeah. How would you add to that if you [clears throat] when you were not on

[53:31] council and you were campaigning? Right.

[53:34] >> I guess the for council that is sitting

[53:37] now for those that are running again in

[53:40] this upcoming election, it's really

[53:41] important to be clear about the your

[53:44] role like your two separate roles, your

[53:46] separate roles. So yes, you are on

[53:48] council.

[53:50] You are um relaying the appetite of all

[53:53] of council or it's you as an individual

[53:57] running

[53:59] for this election to be on council. So

[54:02] you just need to be clear about

[54:04] differentiating and saying ahead of time

[54:08] when you answer someone or something.

[54:11] So, just a last followup. I think the

[54:12] city manager said that we wouldn't be

[54:15] meeting during the campaign period, but

[54:17] we do have meetings during the campaign

[54:19] period.

[54:19] >> Yes, we have one. We have one, I guess.

[54:21] >> Okay. Yeah. So, I just wanted clarity if

[54:23] something had changed.

[54:25] >> We have four meetings left,

[54:26] >> but I thought that's why I was confused

[54:28] when that's okay.

[54:30] >> During your meetings, J'll [laughter]

[54:32] make it.

[54:33] >> Looking for clarity.

[54:34] >> Yeah.

[54:34] >> A lot of moving targets these days.

[54:36] >> Yeah. So, especially during that period

[54:37] then. [clears throat]

[54:38] >> Yeah.

[54:38] >> And Yeah. just will primarily try to

[54:42] handle most of those things as staff and unless that's clearly they want you

[54:49] know it's a a political decision that

[54:52] you know the mayor's a spokesperson

[54:53] right

[54:58] » and I do believe that if I'm not

[54:59] mistaken that I saw a notice go out that

[55:03] no um commissions or or committees will

[55:06] be meeting in October.

[55:08] >> That's true. Yeah, that's correct. Yeah.

[55:10] >> So, where is that in our policies?

[55:13] >> So, it doesn't have to be in our

[55:14] policies. That's just an operational

[55:16] decision that staff can make based on

[55:20] the election. And the fact that we don't

[55:23] want things to become election issues.

[55:25] We don't want to put um or jeopardize

[55:29] um committee members

[55:32] in their integrity, I guess, like their

[55:34] decision-m. We don't. So there's no point in having anything them

[55:40] meet to discuss anything of.

[55:42] >> So was that the CDC and the library are

[55:44] included in that?

[55:46] >> So the library um and the police are

[55:47] different because they have a different

[55:49] board, but the CDC, the housing

[55:51] committee, um the APC, anything to do

[55:56] with development, they're all included

[55:59] in that.

[56:00] >> So certain things will grind to a halt

[56:02] then for like four months, it seems.

[56:04] four months or four weeks.

[56:06] >> Well, you've got October.

[56:07] >> October.

[56:08] >> That's it.

[56:09] >> There's no meetings in October.

[56:12] >> Okay, that's it.

[56:13] >> So, everyone will be assigned to their

[56:15] new commissions committees by the

[56:18] November scheduled meeting then because

[56:20] >> potentially, maybe not. But, I mean,

[56:22] >> I'm trying to understand you're talking

[56:24] about how business is going to roll

[56:25] forward and I'm just trying to

[56:26] >> I just I just saw it. I I read I think

[56:28] it went to everybody. I I read that

[56:30] there's going to be no meetings in

[56:31] >> I did read it as well. So I didn't see

[56:33] anything after that that the committee

[56:36] selection should be

[56:38] >> the committee selection typically

[56:40] happens at a regular council meeting.

[56:42] November 3rd is our inaugural meeting.

[56:44] So that would that means that it's at

[56:46] the prestige. It's kind of a it's a

[56:48] swearing in ceremony of new council. Um

[56:53] anything after that? So the December

[56:55] meeting I think there's one meeting in

[56:56] December. It's a regular meeting. It is

[56:59] a business meeting and perhaps in

[57:02] December or perhaps in January. I'm it

[57:04] would be up to the new council or

[57:06] council to decide um when the

[57:11] appointments are made for anything other

[57:13] than um regional district.

[57:16] >> Yeah. And that could also be made in the

[57:19] I mean there could be a special meeting

[57:20] attached to the cow meeting of of

[57:22] October. So it's not like

[57:24] >> not of October

[57:26] >> November. Sorry. The Yeah.

[57:29] So

[57:29] >> yeah, if there's something urgent that

[57:32] you need need them to meet and and we

[57:35] prioritize that and get people appointed

[57:37] to that and carry on the business, you

[57:39] know, we've never ran into a situation

[57:41] where, [clears throat] you know, things

[57:43] got stalled because we didn't get people

[57:46] appointed to committees. So

[57:49] >> I would just think the APC committee

[57:51] would want to have that available to

[57:52] run.

[57:53] >> Yeah. And we're again we'll look at

[57:55] what's coming up and what potentially

[57:57] the APC would be looking at um and make

[58:00] sure that we don't we don't we're not

[58:02] interested in delaying people's projects

[58:04] because we we're not organized at our

[58:07] end. So we we'll definitely look at

[58:08] those.

[58:10] >> Okay.

[58:12] >> Um so social media is gets some special

[58:17] attention because it can blur the lines

[58:19] between personal views and official

[58:21] information. um and campaign messaging

[58:24] pretty easily. So um the code of conduct

[58:27] applies broadly to personal accounts,

[58:29] official accounts, campaign accounts,

[58:31] adv advocacy accounts, and any other

[58:34] online platform used by council. U

[58:38] members of council are responsible for

[58:40] content appearing on their accounts and

[58:42] should regularly monitor posts and

[58:45] comments. Um, Stephanie, I don't know if

[58:48] you want to speak any more to social

[58:50] media and the importance of again

[58:54] stating whether it's your personal

[58:56] account or uh

[58:59] >> you're representing council. Yeah, I

[59:00] think definitely anytime,

[59:03] you know, I'd love to see when you guys

[59:05] share share uh the city content and and

[59:09] definitely help get the messaging out

[59:11] and anytime you feel compelled to

[59:14] comment. I think just yeah making it

[59:16] clear that it's your personal opinion

[59:18] during this time and that you're not

[59:19] like it's not necessarily an official

[59:21] city of Nelson uh statement or a council

[59:25] statement just to just to make sure that

[59:27] it's that it's really clear to people

[59:29] reading it.

[59:32] >> Councelor Kane,

[59:32] >> it's me again. [laughter]

[59:35] [gasps]

[59:35] So [clears throat] yeah, this is a this

[59:37] is an interesting one for me because I

[59:39] rarely use social media. So, the fact of

[59:42] now needing to monitor it regularly is

[59:45] um yeah, I'm trying to figure out how

[59:47] I'm going to manage to do that. But one

[59:50] of the things that I do, you know, when

[59:51] you're talking about sharing, so we have

[59:53] this AMI event coming up shortly. I

[59:56] always try to share those events. I

[59:58] rarely comment what

[1:00:01] >> I don't see.

[1:00:02] >> Oh, sorry. I [laughter]

[1:00:04] heard something think

[1:00:07] my hearing tests. [clears throat] Um,

[1:00:09] yeah. I just want I rarely comment on

[1:00:11] them unless to say, you know, it would

[1:00:14] be great if a lot of people showed up or

[1:00:16] something like that.

[1:00:18] >> So that's that's you're saying that's

[1:00:20] fine.

[1:00:21] >> I can I can do that. So what would be

[1:00:25] not fine?

[1:00:26] >> And we're not, you know, not encouraging

[1:00:28] you to to ramp up any behavior that you

[1:00:30] would naturally do. Some people spend a

[1:00:33] lot more time on social media than

[1:00:34] others. Some people now comment more

[1:00:38] than others. Some people just watch the

[1:00:40] like it's all we're not asking you to

[1:00:42] all of a sudden start sharing every city

[1:00:44] post but then also saying that it's your

[1:00:45] opinion. Um it's really just you know

[1:00:49] doing what you're doing what you're

[1:00:50] doing now that you're comfortable with.

[1:00:52] But in the event that you do share

[1:00:54] something um that has that's not just a

[1:00:58] like a city announcement or a city

[1:01:01] business. if it was an opinion on that

[1:01:04] then we would want to see it um

[1:01:06] >> on my personal

[1:01:07] >> on your yeah just to you know that it is

[1:01:09] your personal account and that it's not

[1:01:11] um the opinion of the

[1:01:14] >> so do I say that in the comments then

[1:01:17] here

[1:01:19] >> uh I mean you you can there's also um

[1:01:22] like on your Facebook profile for

[1:01:25] example there's like a space to write

[1:01:27] like a little bit of a preamble so if

[1:01:29] it's on your personal page you could

[1:01:30] always just put it right at the top

[1:01:31] there. Um,

[1:01:32] >> okay.

[1:01:34] Yeah, maybe a way to look at it is I

[1:01:37] don't know if you have your

[1:01:39] you you as a counselor sort of Facebook

[1:01:42] profile and and to me I would do what

[1:01:46] you normally do if you're sharing you

[1:01:48] know this meeting coming up or whatever

[1:01:50] but then on your you as the candidate

[1:01:52] over here if that's a separate uh you know portfolio or

[1:01:58] whatever then you know do your your

[1:02:01] campaigning piece on this and on and on

[1:02:04] your council one. Keep it clean. Here's

[1:02:06] a meeting coming up and you know

[1:02:10] maybe avoid you know commenting on it.

[1:02:12] Just share information on that and on

[1:02:14] your other ones that you um you know use

[1:02:19] it more for your campaigning. Maybe

[1:02:21] that's a

[1:02:22] >> if I'm going to use it

[1:02:23] >> keep the the two things separately. But

[1:02:26] as soon as you start to melt them then I

[1:02:29] think then it starts to gray things.

[1:02:32] >> [clears throat]

[1:02:33] >> don't know how to melt them. So, that

[1:02:35] will probably not be an issue.

[1:02:37] >> Yeah. I don't know if that's a easier

[1:02:40] way to look at it is just keep them

[1:02:42] clean.

[1:02:44] >> Oh, yeah. And if you are using a a page

[1:02:46] like a separate page for your campaign,

[1:02:48] then yeah, that it's clear that it's a

[1:02:49] campaign page. Um, and then also kind of

[1:02:52] to this point is that you wouldn't be

[1:02:54] using your official city of Nelson

[1:02:57] counselor page to do any campaigning.

[1:02:59] >> Yeah. Do we have official city of Nelson

[1:03:02] counselor pages?

[1:03:03] >> Well, do you have a Facebook profile?

[1:03:06] Lesie Payne, city of Nelson counselor. I

[1:03:09] would say that's your [clears throat]

[1:03:10] people.

[1:03:11] >> Not from You don't have to have one, but

[1:03:13] >> Oh,

[1:03:13] >> for those of you who do have one.

[1:03:15] >> Okay.

[1:03:16] >> I don't think any of us do.

[1:03:17] >> I don't [laughter]

[1:03:18] think if I have one, I don't know.

[1:03:21] >> Yeah. Like I set these pages up. Oh my

[1:03:23] god.

[1:03:24] >> Yeah, they're not they're not pages that

[1:03:26] the city assigned to you and said here's

[1:03:28] the

[1:03:28] >> idea is for clarity on the example is if

[1:03:31] it's about the fact that the meeting for

[1:03:34] the um advanced metering is coming up

[1:03:38] and you see the city ad and you push

[1:03:42] like or share and whatever happens to

[1:03:46] that in social media cyerspace that I

[1:03:49] don't understand the problem becomes if

[1:03:52] you

[1:03:53] that and share and the comment is this

[1:03:56] is the stupidest thing I've ever seen

[1:03:57] and it's going to be a tax wasting mess.

[1:04:00] Um vote for me to make sure it gets

[1:04:02] stopped. That would be a conflict.

[1:04:04] >> Thank you.

[1:04:06] >> Exactly. Yeah.

[1:04:08] >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you.

[1:04:12] I look for my Facebook preamble.

[1:04:16] [laughter]

[1:04:16] >> Okay.

[1:04:17] >> Keith is looking at me like why are we

[1:04:19] at

[1:04:19] >> No, I'm cing it. I'm crafting. You're

[1:04:21] convinced

[1:04:25] [clears throat] an interview. [laughter]

[1:04:26] >> No more pain

[1:04:28] or my brain to pain.

[1:04:32] >> So I think we've uh talked a lot about

[1:04:36] social media accounts, personal accounts

[1:04:40] [clears throat]

[1:04:40] or city sanctioned account if you should

[1:04:44] have one, which apparently did. So there

[1:04:47] we go. Um protecting staff neutrality is

[1:04:50] a foundational principle of local

[1:04:52] government. So members um counselors

[1:04:56] must not request or direct staff to

[1:04:58] assist with campaign activities. I think

[1:05:00] we talked about that at the beginning.

[1:05:02] It's really important um to protect

[1:05:05] staff in particular

[1:05:07] >> and even indirect stuff like you know

[1:05:10] [clears throat] some I'm out on the

[1:05:12] campaign trail, somebody's asked me

[1:05:13] about this. I'm going to phone stab

[1:05:15] because the

[1:05:17] >> candidate that is running that's not on

[1:05:19] council doesn't have that opportunity to

[1:05:22] do that. I think that's the,

[1:05:24] >> you know, that's that's the fairness

[1:05:25] that's trying to be created here is

[1:05:28] don't do anything that the other

[1:05:30] candidate that's not on council can

[1:05:33] can't do, right? And so you mustn't, it

[1:05:36] says you mustn't pressure staff, but um

[1:05:39] I think even just by asking staff for

[1:05:42] information is indirectly pressure. I

[1:05:46] know that seems weird, but it's um it's

[1:05:49] sort of

[1:05:49] >> bosses they feel.

[1:05:51] >> Exactly. Yeah.

[1:05:53] >> Ask them for something they think they

[1:05:54] need to answer, [snorts] which is

[1:05:56] >> Well, more importantly, I think they

[1:05:59] feel like they want to try and satisfy

[1:06:01] you, right? So they're less likely to

[1:06:03] give you an answer that you may not want

[1:06:06] to hear. Right. So

[1:06:08] >> yeah.

[1:06:08] So it might not be accurate

[1:06:10] information.

[1:06:10] >> It's one of those things. Yeah.

[1:06:12] >> Number two, it's not fair.

[1:06:14] >> Yeah. To the city manager's point, you

[1:06:16] know, they view you like bosses. And as

[1:06:18] bosses, you have to understand that

[1:06:20] while it doesn't seem like there should

[1:06:22] be that expectation, you know, for us

[1:06:24] all that are in leadership positions, it

[1:06:26] always feels weird when you hear people

[1:06:27] say, "Well, I don't know. You ask me

[1:06:28] your boss. I'm trying to make you

[1:06:29] happy." It's like I don't expect that of

[1:06:31] you but people just generally feel that

[1:06:33] way. So be very sensitive around that.

[1:06:38] >> Uh this slide also reinforces

[1:06:39] [clears throat]

[1:06:40] another important governance principle

[1:06:42] and that is that um counselors should

[1:06:44] not direct staff on operational matters

[1:06:47] except through the CEO or city manager

[1:06:49] Kevin um or Chris or even the mayor. Not

[1:06:54] even even or the mayor. Um, the

[1:06:58] relationship between council and staff

[1:06:59] should remain professional, respectful,

[1:07:04] and free from political pressure. Sorry,

[1:07:06] I just had a there's like some a little

[1:07:09] notification notification. I'm looking

[1:07:11] at the IT guy.

[1:07:15] Um,

[1:07:16] okay. So, uh, election periods do not

[1:07:20] change obligations regarding

[1:07:21] confidentiality, privacy, or records

[1:07:23] management. Um, confidential information

[1:07:26] obtained through official duties must

[1:07:28] remain confidential unless disclosure

[1:07:31] has been properly authorized. Personal

[1:07:33] information must only be collected, used

[1:07:36] or disclosed in accordance with

[1:07:37] applicable privacy legislation,

[1:07:39] including what if a privacy breach

[1:07:42] occurs, it should be reported to the

[1:07:44] corporate officer, that'd be me

[1:07:47] immediately. Um, council records,

[1:07:49] reports, correspondence, and other docu

[1:07:52] documents created through official

[1:07:53] duties remain city property.

[1:07:57] Um, councilors should be especially

[1:07:59] cautious when discussing city matters

[1:08:01] online or sharing documents through

[1:08:03] social media during the election period.

[1:08:06] Um, campaign considerations never

[1:08:08] override polic privacy or

[1:08:10] confidentiality.

[1:08:21] skipped that last one. So, I'm I'm still

[1:08:23] back on social media. Sorry. But do not

[1:08:25] publish personal information. What other

[1:08:29] kind of information am I publishing as a

[1:08:31] candidate?

[1:08:32] >> Personal information about about other

[1:08:34] people.

[1:08:34] >> Okay.

[1:08:36] >> Yeah.

[1:08:37] >> Didn't get other people. Thank you,

[1:08:38] Rick.

[1:08:39] [laughter]

[1:08:42] » Read that three times. Thanks.

[1:08:44] >> Which is can't be doing anyway.

[1:08:46] >> I was gonna say it's it's so foreign to

[1:08:49] what I way I think that I

[1:08:50] >> This is all in our code of conduct.

[1:08:52] >> Yes, absolutely. Y

[1:08:55] >> um so before you communicate as um a

[1:09:00] counselor or as a candidate, somebody

[1:09:02] running, you need to ask yourself some

[1:09:06] questions. And um is this city business

[1:09:08] or is this a campaign activity? Um, am I

[1:09:11] creating the impression that I am

[1:09:13] speaking on behalf of the city? Um, am I

[1:09:16] using city resources or staff time? Um,

[1:09:20] is the information accurate, complete,

[1:09:22] and not misleading? Is the communication

[1:09:25] respectful?

[1:09:27] Um, and have you made the appropriate

[1:09:31] disclaimer? So, if it's your personal

[1:09:34] um social media page that you say that

[1:09:37] it is your personal opinion, not the

[1:09:39] opinion of council.

[1:09:41] And that's all I think.

[1:09:43] >> Do you have anything that you want to

[1:09:44] add?

[1:09:46] >> Um, no, I don't think so.

[1:09:49] And well, just to reiterate, too, like

[1:09:51] if if a member from the media contacts

[1:09:53] you as a candidate and wants to

[1:09:55] interview you, that wouldn't need to go

[1:09:58] through my office, just to be clear. But

[1:10:00] if you're talking about city business,

[1:10:01] then we'd appreciate that connection,

[1:10:06] >> which is what we're supposed to be doing

[1:10:07] all the time anyways.

[1:10:08] >> Yes.

[1:10:10] Yeah,

[1:10:10] >> you just have to like double down now on

[1:10:13] it.

[1:10:13] >> Like we're never supposed to bother

[1:10:15] staff about operational things. We're

[1:10:17] supposed to

[1:10:18] >> No, but but also if somebody contacts

[1:10:20] you, wants to talk to you, like it's not

[1:10:22] just during this period. It's all the

[1:10:23] time it's supposed to

[1:10:24] >> most of this is actually all the time,

[1:10:26] not just now. Yeah.

[1:10:28] >> To that point, if you have any questions

[1:10:30] about something, if it goes or doesn't

[1:10:32] go, get in touch with Kevin or Sarah and

[1:10:34] we'll be able to sort out, right?

[1:10:38] Okay, thank you. So that is the um

[1:10:42] communications during election time

[1:10:45] workshop.

[1:10:47] >> Thank you. Thanks.

[1:10:48] >> I'm still here. [laughter] So just let

[1:10:51] me uh I have one more um presentation

[1:10:57] that I want to talk about and that is

[1:10:59] the action item list.

[1:11:05] This is the second workshop.

[1:11:10] You can do whatever you want with it.

[1:11:13] [laughter]

[1:11:16] [clears throat]

[1:11:17] So, um

[1:11:20] this is about the council correspondence

[1:11:22] and the action item listing. So, this

[1:11:25] workshop is a little bit different. I

[1:11:26] would like some feedback from you. If

[1:11:29] you have an appetite to share, that'd be

[1:11:32] great. Um,

[1:11:35] so, uh, there are two processes that are

[1:11:40] very similar, but they're very different

[1:11:42] at the same time. So um the purpose of

[1:11:46] this discussion is to review the current

[1:11:48] practices and identify where there may

[1:11:50] be room for improvement and get

[1:11:52] council's feedback. Get your feedback um

[1:11:56] before we bring forward any updated

[1:11:58] policies or processes

[1:12:01] there. Um so we will talk about the

[1:12:02] council correspondence and the action

[1:12:04] item listing.

[1:12:08] Okay.

[1:12:10] So

[1:12:13] currently correspondence can come in

[1:12:15] different forms including letters

[1:12:17] received by mail or handd delivered

[1:12:19] emails from stakeholders

[1:12:22] um and other local governments or senior levels of government and

[1:12:26] submissions through the city's website

[1:12:28] form. Under the current practice,

[1:12:31] um the corporate officer, myself, we I

[1:12:35] review the correspondence for privacy

[1:12:37] and then I direct staff to add it to the

[1:12:39] appropriate

[1:12:40] um council correspondence package.

[1:12:44] Okay?

[1:12:45] And you council receives that package by

[1:12:48] email

[1:12:49] uh before the regular council meeting.

[1:12:53] At the council meeting, you receive an

[1:12:55] index of

[1:12:58] um any of the correspondents, not the

[1:13:01] actual correspondents.

[1:13:03] >> Council P.

[1:13:04] >> Um so handdivered letters um whether

[1:13:09] they're individually or for everyone, we

[1:13:11] used to get mail in those boxes back

[1:13:13] there, but I don't think that we've had

[1:13:15] mail in those letter boxes for quite

[1:13:18] some time. Are we still doing that? we

[1:13:22] just don't get that form of mail anymore

[1:13:24] or what is the purpose of that?

[1:13:26] >> The purpose of that was for invitations

[1:13:30] um individual letters to council which

[1:13:34] we don't seem to get any anymore. That's

[1:13:36] basically the purpose of it. So that's

[1:13:38] why it's

[1:13:39] >> Christmas cards.

[1:13:40] Yeah.

[1:13:42] >> Like we

[1:13:43] >> I'm just saying if you need some space,

[1:13:44] it might not be the best use of uh

[1:13:47] >> Yeah. Well, that's why we're going

[1:13:48] through this whole

[1:13:49] >> that's why process, right? Yeah.

[1:13:52] >> Um okay. So the the challenge with our

[1:13:56] current approach is that only the index

[1:13:58] is included in the public agenda. So in

[1:14:00] the agenda package

[1:14:02] um right now council receives only

[1:14:05] an itemized

[1:14:07] um index of correspondents not the

[1:14:10] actual correspondence.

[1:14:12] Um the full package is sent separately

[1:14:15] by email.

[1:14:17] Okay. And that can create confusion if

[1:14:19] council wants to discuss an item during

[1:14:21] the meeting regular meeting um because

[1:14:25] the public may not have the same easy

[1:14:27] access to the material being referenced.

[1:14:29] So if you Yeah. Okay.

[1:14:33] So we're suggesting that this can be

[1:14:35] this process can be improved to provide

[1:14:37] greater transparency and easier access.

[1:14:40] There are also two existing policies

[1:14:43] that deal with correspondence and we are

[1:14:45] looking um for your feedback before

[1:14:47] bringing forward amendments or

[1:14:49] potentially combining those policies

[1:14:51] into one clearer policy.

[1:14:57] Councelor P.

[1:14:59] >> So you have included the correspondence

[1:15:03] in tonight's agenda

[1:15:06] >> I believe. Is it is [snorts] it it's

[1:15:09] just the itemized listing, right? It's

[1:15:12] not

[1:15:13] >> down.

[1:15:13] >> Okay.

[1:15:16] >> Do you want to go through this and then

[1:15:18] take questions?

[1:15:19] >> Okay, that'd be great.

[1:15:21] >> Yeah.

[1:15:21] [clears throat]

[1:15:24] So, um the intent is to distinguish

[1:15:27] between correspondence that should be

[1:15:29] included in the council correspondence

[1:15:31] package and correspondence that is more

[1:15:33] appropriately handled administratively.

[1:15:35] Under the proposed approach, form

[1:15:38] submissions, advertising, unsigned

[1:15:40] correspondence,

[1:15:41] um,

[1:15:43] operational letters and repetitive

[1:15:45] letters would not be included in council

[1:15:47] correspondence

[1:15:49] package, the package. So that's what you

[1:15:51] get before a council meeting.

[1:15:54] >> And Sarah, that's regardless if they

[1:15:56] address it to council.

[1:15:58] >> Yes.

[1:15:59] >> We determine it's operational. We'll try

[1:16:01] to deal with it. And I guess that person

[1:16:04] always has the chance to say, "We think

[1:16:06] your policy stinks and you should change

[1:16:09] it and I want this to go to council."

[1:16:12] >> That's one of the things that we're

[1:16:13] trying to figure out like right now.

[1:16:15] >> Yeah.

[1:16:15] >> That's what I would like feedback on.

[1:16:18] like I you know if that's the

[1:16:20] distinction you know you don't you know

[1:16:23] [clears throat] my street wasn't plowed

[1:16:24] properly and we go and we say to them

[1:16:27] you know our policy is to plow your

[1:16:29] street at 4 in of snow and and we did

[1:16:35] that and they say well we think your

[1:16:38] policy sucks and council should revisit

[1:16:40] that and it would go to council as a

[1:16:44] policy decision. So what we're thinking

[1:16:46] that operational matters would be

[1:16:48] directed to the appropriate department

[1:16:51] and dealt with and responded to like a

[1:16:55] thank you and um often like right now

[1:16:58] Stephanie is dealing with um the web

[1:17:01] mail the web forms that we receive or

[1:17:03] you receive and then and we sort of

[1:17:05] staff sometimes receive them as well.

[1:17:09] Um, and if they're operational in

[1:17:10] nature, we send them off to the

[1:17:12] appropriate staff person to address and

[1:17:16] then Stephanie sends it out again like

[1:17:19] [snorts] as a response and I believe she

[1:17:21] CC's you um but then but again it's

[1:17:24] operational so we need um direction

[1:17:28] about whether we include council or not.

[1:17:34] Um, okay. Correspondents from

[1:17:36] governments, First Nations, and advocacy

[1:17:39] organizations, stakeholders, and similar

[1:17:41] bodies are included in the council

[1:17:44] correspondence package and on the

[1:17:46] agenda. Um,

[1:17:50] see, letters of support or advocacy from

[1:17:53] the city would also be included. Invites

[1:17:56] would be provided to council as they are

[1:17:57] received, so council has enough time to

[1:18:00] plan accordingly.

[1:18:02] Um the proposed change is that the full

[1:18:06] council correspondence package including

[1:18:08] both the index and the materials are

[1:18:11] included in the council agenda

[1:18:15] um monthly. So does that make sense?

[1:18:23] » Okay.

[1:18:24] >> Can I just ask

[1:18:25] >> Yes. Does it make sense it's on that

[1:18:28] regular agenda versus a cow where you

[1:18:31] get a chance to look at it and decide

[1:18:33] whether you you want to refer something

[1:18:35] to a regular agenda. It's just we're not

[1:18:39] going to deal with it at a regular

[1:18:40] meeting.

[1:18:41] >> That's right.

[1:18:44] Maybe the first time you see it is on a cal meeting and there are things

[1:18:50] there that So I guess one of the

[1:18:53] questions is whether or not you want to

[1:18:55] see

[1:18:57] uh the correspondence package mirror the

[1:19:00] agenda package

[1:19:02] as well, right? because then you have a

[1:19:04] chance to um digest the correspondence

[1:19:07] package, potentially pull something out

[1:19:10] at a regular or cow meeting, whichever

[1:19:12] you decide, but you have had a chance

[1:19:15] beforehand before the meeting um to

[1:19:18] review the correspondence.

[1:19:24] » That makes sense. Is it that you're suggesting that at a

[1:19:30] cow we would see the correspondence

[1:19:33] report from corporate services as we do

[1:19:35] right now? That's what I heard from the

[1:19:38] CEO is that right now on a regular we

[1:19:40] have the list of August 5th and I'm

[1:19:44] hearing that we would restrict that list

[1:19:46] to showing up at the cows only. And in

[1:19:49] the current form that I see it's it's

[1:19:53] declares what the letters are about. And

[1:19:55] there's just enough information shared

[1:19:57] out so people know and seemed

[1:19:58] appropriate level. So

[1:20:02] would we continue doing that? Would we

[1:20:04] is that direction?

[1:20:05] >> I think maybe what I was hearing in the

[1:20:06] question was is that it's like one or

[1:20:08] the other. I guess I guess the idea is

[1:20:12] um

[1:20:14] when I hear that question being asked,

[1:20:15] this is where my head goes is if it

[1:20:17] stays in the regular and we have it all

[1:20:19] there and we're in a regular meeting,

[1:20:21] somebody who's particularly feisty might

[1:20:23] say, "No, I demand to have this dealt

[1:20:24] with right now and we would have perhaps

[1:20:26] no staff input on whatever the

[1:20:29] correspondence was on the table." And so

[1:20:31] then you're in a process where people

[1:20:33] might not have thought that piece of

[1:20:34] correspondence was of any particular

[1:20:36] interest or maybe it was or it wasn't or

[1:20:39] however they feel about it. And then

[1:20:41] you've got somebody demanding to get it

[1:20:43] on the table, getting a seconder, having

[1:20:45] a vote, and then all of a sudden you've

[1:20:47] got something that you have to deal with

[1:20:51] um right away. Or do we want to have the

[1:20:53] ability to look at the correspondence

[1:20:57] and flag and say number 12 um is of

[1:21:02] interest. What do other people think

[1:21:03] about number 12? And then decide whether

[1:21:06] or not then you actually want to make a

[1:21:09] formal recommendation that um that you

[1:21:13] refer it back to staff

[1:21:16] >> um to bring it forward for a piece of

[1:21:18] business.

[1:21:19] >> Okay. But the current practice right now

[1:21:21] is it shows up on the on the most

[1:21:23] convenient meeting that comes up next

[1:21:25] after the report has been completed and

[1:21:27] sent to us. Like you finish on the 5th

[1:21:29] of August, it gets circulated. The

[1:21:31] summary is finished and it's here

[1:21:33] because this happens to be our next

[1:21:35] meeting. Like you're not repeating it at

[1:21:37] the next cow. You're not also listing it

[1:21:39] out. That's right.

[1:21:39] >> Right.

[1:21:40] >> That's right.

[1:21:41] >> So the suggestion would be you would

[1:21:42] always wait for a cow. reinforcing the

[1:21:45] idea that cows are places where

[1:21:47] discussions happen and the public shows

[1:21:49] up and there's also letters and that's

[1:21:51] [snorts] considered your opportunity to

[1:21:52] refer to your next regular which is

[1:21:55] always another two weeks away

[1:21:57] >> in most instances

[1:22:00] sometimes it's at the regular because

[1:22:01] that was the next one sometimes it's the

[1:22:03] cow and it will

[1:22:05] >> show up sporadically based on its own

[1:22:07] schedule like I I don't mind the

[1:22:09] symmetry of it just sticking to the cow

[1:22:12] for clarity I'm fine with that

[1:22:13] >> and would Do you does council have an

[1:22:16] appetite for it for you to receive the

[1:22:20] correspondence package as a package once

[1:22:23] a month that would then show up again on

[1:22:26] the cow agenda

[1:22:27] >> versus a separate circulation?

[1:22:30] >> No,

[1:22:31] >> I my suggestion is just make it part of

[1:22:34] the cow agenda. I think it's just all in

[1:22:36] one time that you look at it because

[1:22:38] >> the other day when something got pulled

[1:22:40] out, I was like, "Okay." And

[1:22:41] unfortunately, I had never gotten the correspondence package. So, I was

[1:22:47] looking at something and somebody wanted

[1:22:48] to put something on the table. I'm like,

[1:22:51] I don't even know what that's about

[1:22:52] because I didn't read it because I never

[1:22:54] got the correspondence package. Now that

[1:22:55] I have a clear sense of what is being

[1:22:57] asked, I I think what would work best

[1:22:59] for me and others may agree is produce

[1:23:03] in the correspondence report as it will

[1:23:05] appear in the cow on that monthly

[1:23:07] schedule. So at the start of the month,

[1:23:09] we always anticipate this collection of

[1:23:11] letters will come in from the last month

[1:23:13] and then when we get to the next cow to

[1:23:14] also be the same thing that we see there

[1:23:16] like they're not two. So we

[1:23:18] >> reports, but we do get the

[1:23:20] correspondence just on its own monthly

[1:23:23] schedule because it's just a volume in

[1:23:25] and of itself.

[1:23:27] >> So just packing it into the cow

[1:23:31] >> to me feels like then we're just we have

[1:23:34] to read it all at the same time when we

[1:23:35] don't need to read it all at the same

[1:23:36] time.

[1:23:38] >> The big show the gap though.

[1:23:41] >> Well, it just show it will you'll get

[1:23:42] that particular report when it's due at

[1:23:45] the beginning of the month. So you won't

[1:23:46] get the emails that have come in since.

[1:23:48] >> You'll get that email and then that same

[1:23:50] report, that same package will show up

[1:23:52] in the cows,

[1:23:53] >> right? But if you said at the beginning

[1:23:54] of the month and the cows the third week

[1:23:56] of the month, what about those wait that

[1:23:58] long unless it's urgent, but you'll have

[1:24:00] seen [snorts] it for July.

[1:24:02] >> Sure.

[1:24:03] >> But you'll get it and then you'll know

[1:24:04] you can talk about it the next cow.

[1:24:07] And sometimes it's long, but most times

[1:24:09] it's not.

[1:24:12] versus it always just being packed in

[1:24:14] the cow because I think then you're

[1:24:15] going to have all the cow stuff like we

[1:24:16] have today and then the correspondence

[1:24:17] package al also showed up on a Thursday.

[1:24:20] >> So you're so basically you're you're

[1:24:23] asking for it to be sent to all of us as

[1:24:25] an email.

[1:24:26] >> Yeah.

[1:24:26] >> And then in a meeting it's also showing

[1:24:28] up again in its entirety embedded into

[1:24:31] an agenda.

[1:24:32] >> Yeah.

[1:24:33] >> So you're asking for it

[1:24:34] >> with no with no adjustments and nothing

[1:24:36] else came in since that time. That will

[1:24:38] go into the next cycle that happens at

[1:24:39] the start of the next month.

[1:24:41] So it would So you get it at the

[1:24:44] beginning of the month.

[1:24:45] >> Yeah.

[1:24:45] >> For the previous month.

[1:24:46] >> Yeah.

[1:24:46] >> In a correspondence package.

[1:24:48] >> Yeah.

[1:24:49] >> Then you also get it in the count

[1:24:50] agenda.

[1:24:51] >> Yeah.

[1:24:52] >> In its totality.

[1:24:53] >> Uh just the just the cover page.

[1:24:55] >> Oh, just the cover page. Okay.

[1:24:56] >> What that what we're getting now cuz

[1:24:58] we'll had it there.

[1:25:00] >> Okay.

[1:25:00] >> If you wanted to, you could put the

[1:25:01] letters in the in camera part of it.

[1:25:04] >> So the only

[1:25:05] >> I would ignore that. I would just do

[1:25:07] >> So I just want to go back to my example

[1:25:08] is that last

[1:25:10] month, something was pulled out about

[1:25:13] ebikes or e- scooters

[1:25:15] >> and all I had was just a reference to

[1:25:17] that and I had never received the

[1:25:21] correspondence package so I never read

[1:25:24] it. So when somebody pulls out number 12

[1:25:27] and it's a line, I have nothing to refer

[1:25:31] to.

[1:25:34] So, do you not want to see like would

[1:25:36] you not want to see the correspondence

[1:25:38] in the

[1:25:40] >> I mean if we can keep going the way

[1:25:41] we're doing it now which is what

[1:25:42] basically you're saying and it's just

[1:25:44] the fact that the list comes at the cow

[1:25:46] versus the regular

[1:25:48] >> do we want to be publishing full letters

[1:25:50] in in the agenda like that's is that the

[1:25:52] >> well that's well that's the question I

[1:25:54] mean the question I always have is like

[1:25:55] do we do these because how much do we

[1:25:56] have to retract and then what do we do

[1:25:58] about letters that we get that are

[1:26:01] really in camera like are really

[1:26:03] >> they go in camera. They should go in

[1:26:06] camera. I mean, they shouldn't be

[1:26:07] showing up or being in a correspondence

[1:26:09] package that gets sent to you or like I get that's where I get a little

[1:26:13] bit cuz cuz I I see what we kind of get

[1:26:16] at at at police which is um heavily

[1:26:19] required to be in camera and I just I

[1:26:22] know there's things here and like how

[1:26:23] much are you going to redact and and

[1:26:26] stuff before you um

[1:26:29] >> I would just put the bundle in the in

[1:26:32] camera the the list there that's been

[1:26:34] redacted that has been

[1:26:37] and just put it in camera.

[1:26:38] >> Okay, then

[1:26:38] >> maybe

[1:26:40] we can investigate like we should be

[1:26:42] able to just put it in a folder and put

[1:26:45] a link on your on your council

[1:26:48] correspondence that if you want to see

[1:26:51] that the detail, you just, you know,

[1:26:54] click on it from here and it'll take you

[1:26:56] to that. I

[1:26:57] >> I guess one of the challenges is that

[1:26:59] members of the public then are not

[1:27:02] seeing

[1:27:03] in full what you're talking about. Yeah.

[1:27:06] >> Well, they're not seeing in full now

[1:27:07] what we're talking about.

[1:27:08] >> That's right. Councelor Panero,

[1:27:11] >> I'm trying to follow along here, but

[1:27:13] >> um seems to me like we just need a

[1:27:16] mechanism by which everybody can see

[1:27:20] the correspondence and then we're trying

[1:27:23] to avoid a situation where something

[1:27:25] comes up and we have to make staff

[1:27:28] scramble because they haven't prepared

[1:27:30] anything. Like we we don't want that. So

[1:27:34] seeing it as it comes in and then

[1:27:36] putting it together if it's if we're

[1:27:38] seeing it as it comes in and then the we were seeing it in real time

[1:27:44] basically and then having that list

[1:27:47] >> at a

[1:27:49] cow I guess we know the context of that

[1:27:52] list and at that cow then we would refer

[1:27:54] it to the next if it's something we need

[1:27:56] to pull out we all know it and we get

[1:27:58] that extra time. So, I think that's the thing. Is that am I

[1:28:03] understanding? You're right. Cuz that seems perfect for me. Like we we're

[1:28:07] still we don't have to wait to see it or

[1:28:08] we're not like letting it cook for 3

[1:28:11] weeks without looking at it. We're

[1:28:13] seeing it as it comes. But then at that

[1:28:15] cow there's this list and if anybody if I or or council Wenberg wants to pull

[1:28:20] something at that point for the next to

[1:28:23] like refer it to the next

[1:28:26] or just to discuss, right? And so we're

[1:28:28] not then discussing things that nobody's

[1:28:31] ever heard of. We're not disc we're not

[1:28:33] throwing staff for a loop by accident or

[1:28:36] on purpose and and it's fine. Um so yes.

[1:28:40] >> So it sounds like sounds like people

[1:28:42] want to do this at the the cow.

[1:28:45] >> For sure. Yep.

[1:28:46] >> For sure. I mean that's where we want to

[1:28:48] see

[1:28:49] >> this list with the potential for having

[1:28:51] discussion would be at um a cow.

[1:28:55] >> Yes. So,

[1:28:57] >> so I gather that from council um

[1:29:02] I gather

[1:29:04] what I'm hearing I guess is that at the

[1:29:07] beginning of each month you would

[1:29:10] receive a full package that would have

[1:29:13] all the correspondence from the previous

[1:29:15] month and then you would have um at the

[1:29:18] next cow meeting you would have it

[1:29:22] >> summarized So line item like you

[1:29:26] wouldn't have the actual letters in the

[1:29:28] package. And if you want to pull out

[1:29:31] some something that's correspondence,

[1:29:34] this is where I think I'm I need you to

[1:29:38] tell me then you vote on it to make sure

[1:29:42] as council to make sure that all of

[1:29:45] council actually wants to move forward

[1:29:46] with it and then it gets placed on an

[1:29:50] agenda

[1:29:51] >> or a work plan or whatever. It's an

[1:29:54] action ite or the action item listing,

[1:29:55] right?

[1:29:56] >> Which I'm going to talk about in a

[1:29:57] second.

[1:29:58] >> I think [clears throat]

[1:30:00] [snorts] the only

[1:30:03] clarification I would make there. I

[1:30:05] think the idea of putting on a cow is to

[1:30:08] give us space to um decide whether it's

[1:30:11] going to go on a regular. So I I

[1:30:13] wouldn't want to see it go on an action

[1:30:15] list cuz now you're dealing with it in

[1:30:17] the heat of the moment as opposed to we

[1:30:20] got two weeks to you know to decide yeah

[1:30:22] this makes sense and and in a regular

[1:30:25] meeting deciding whether there's going

[1:30:27] to be some action on it or not. I think

[1:30:30] the cow meeting is refer it to yes we

[1:30:32] want to refer this one

[1:30:34] >> to the cow meeting or a regular meeting

[1:30:36] to decide what action we want to take on

[1:30:38] this.

[1:30:40] [clears throat]

[1:30:41] I think that creates that additional

[1:30:43] space to do that.

[1:30:45] The um mayor,

[1:30:47] >> the only quibble I have with your plan,

[1:30:49] councelor page, is that three weeks of

[1:30:53] gap, a lot of the correspondence we get

[1:30:56] from the public is like there's a big

[1:30:58] issue that's come up, but people write

[1:31:01] letters and it's like the time frame is

[1:31:04] often shorter like well the two weeks

[1:31:06] before or the week before a cow when

[1:31:10] they know it's coming on the agenda,

[1:31:11] that's when they'll write the letter.

[1:31:13] And I can just anticipate a lot of

[1:31:15] blowback from the public like

[1:31:17] frustration

[1:31:19] um when you know they may have a bunch

[1:31:22] of people organized, wrote a bunch of

[1:31:24] letters and really got passionate about

[1:31:26] it and that that we just don't even

[1:31:28] address it. Um, [clears throat]

[1:31:31] >> I I think that um I I hear what you're

[1:31:35] saying about sort of timeliness, but

[1:31:40] when I think of all of the years, and

[1:31:41] you've now sat here for eight, that for

[1:31:44] the longest time, we never saw

[1:31:45] correspondence. So, let's just get that

[1:31:47] on the table. I mean, we weren't really

[1:31:50] seeing correspondence unless somebody

[1:31:53] was bringing it up, but you personally

[1:31:54] might have gotten some correspondence. I

[1:31:56] mean, we still haven't ser solved all

[1:31:58] the correspondence problems. Like

[1:31:59] correspondence that I get that comes

[1:32:01] directly to the mayor usually gets

[1:32:03] opened by a staff person before it even

[1:32:04] hits my desk. I have no idea what people

[1:32:07] are sending to the rest of you cuz

[1:32:09] you're not coming in with your letter

[1:32:11] and sharing it with the rest of us. My

[1:32:13] mail gets shared. I don't know what

[1:32:15] counselors do. just like the online

[1:32:17] submitt form and like that's one that I

[1:32:20] would like to talk about sort of

[1:32:22] separately because a lot of that comes

[1:32:24] on that online submitt form we all see

[1:32:27] it. I have no idea how many of you

[1:32:30] actually respond to it cuz you decide

[1:32:33] that you know that person and you want

[1:32:34] to respond. Um, but at the same time, a

[1:32:38] lot of that is operational. And what I

[1:32:41] have suggested to staff and maybe you

[1:32:43] guys think that I'm wasting staff's time

[1:32:44] and they're not doing it because of the

[1:32:46] fact that we need to have a discussion

[1:32:47] about it is that when it's operational

[1:32:51] and we know that Stephanie has then sent

[1:32:53] it to say public works public works

[1:32:57] answers the question sends it back to

[1:32:58] Stephanie to send out to the person that

[1:33:00] wrote the letter is because it's

[1:33:02] operational. I would kind of like to

[1:33:04] know what the answer is to the question.

[1:33:05] It's not that I'm going to change

[1:33:07] operations or that I'm going to write

[1:33:09] another letter and say that operations

[1:33:11] is wrong. It's just that it's also an

[1:33:13] opportunity for us to learn like when

[1:33:15] somebody asks a question about why don't

[1:33:18] we plow the snow when it's 2 in versus 4

[1:33:20] in and we've got a sound answer for

[1:33:22] that. We know it's in the policy and we

[1:33:23] could look. when that person's getting

[1:33:25] that letter back, it's nice to see what

[1:33:27] we've sent them back

[1:33:29] >> just because then we know and it just

[1:33:31] kind of puts a bow on the,

[1:33:33] >> you know, and a lot of those online

[1:33:34] things are just comments. So, we're not writing back or anything like

[1:33:39] that. I mean, it's a comment. People are

[1:33:41] allowed and and we are all seeing that,

[1:33:44] right? Um, so [clears throat] I I did

[1:33:46] think that maybe for that and that would

[1:33:48] be different than it being in our

[1:33:51] correspondence package because we've

[1:33:53] already seen the correspondence like to

[1:33:55] me correspondence package is a little

[1:33:56] bit of you guys getting to see all the

[1:33:58] things that come into the mayor's

[1:33:59] office. Like responses back from the ministry like when we've gone

[1:34:03] to a ministerial meeting and I get the

[1:34:05] letter comes back to me and then you

[1:34:08] guys all get to to see it because I make

[1:34:10] sure that it gets into a correspondence

[1:34:11] package. online submittals. You've

[1:34:13] already read what the question is,

[1:34:15] >> but I think that you should get to know

[1:34:16] what the answer is, but I don't think

[1:34:17] that that has to be public. I don't

[1:34:19] think that has to be put into a

[1:34:20] correspondence package. That's just a

[1:34:22] way that's just a form for way for

[1:34:24] people to contact us.

[1:34:25] >> Right. So I guess then I'm a little bit

[1:34:29] confused about the purpose of if not for

[1:34:36] the purpose of of

[1:34:38] delivering us correspondence and then

[1:34:39] having us pull something out and refer

[1:34:41] it to next business meeting if it didn't

[1:34:44] also include things that were timely.

[1:34:46] Like for example this the grizzly bear

[1:34:50] situation that's you know really a lot

[1:34:53] of people are concerned about. Let's say

[1:34:55] we got a whole bunch of emails in the

[1:34:57] week. It just happened. We have a cow

[1:34:58] coming up the following week. You know,

[1:35:02] it would be good to know,

[1:35:04] did people send staff a whole bunch of

[1:35:07] emails? You know, like the the issues

[1:35:10] like that are often quite timely. And so

[1:35:13] we would want to and and the action that

[1:35:15] we might come out of that would be let's

[1:35:18] have the we want a motion of council to

[1:35:20] have whilst they've come in and explain

[1:35:22] the situation. might be simple as that,

[1:35:24] but it is a timely thing that would be

[1:35:27] have been generated by a whole bunch of

[1:35:30] emails that have come in. That's the only thing I'm confused about

[1:35:33] like that the timeliness oftentimes are

[1:35:36] a factor three weeks because because

[1:35:39] otherwise the scenario would be we're

[1:35:41] then waiting not just three weeks

[1:35:44] actually we're waiting a month and a

[1:35:46] half it would be a month and three weeks

[1:35:48] before it comes back to the next cow.

[1:35:51] that that seems like it would generate a

[1:35:53] lot of frustration and the way that

[1:35:55] people would then express they get

[1:35:58] frustrated and then so that what they

[1:35:59] would do is they'd come to a cow and

[1:36:01] we'd have a whole bunch of people coming

[1:36:02] up and providing delegation.

[1:36:04] >> I think that I mean am I am I wrong? I

[1:36:07] mean we have council

[1:36:09] um we have the ability to give council

[1:36:13] reports at meetings. I mean,

[1:36:16] >> well, you can't if there's an urgent

[1:36:19] issue that all council believes it's

[1:36:21] urgent, you can put it on the table and

[1:36:24] >> right

[1:36:24] >> we can share what kind of

[1:36:26] [clears throat] any information we have

[1:36:28] at that stage.

[1:36:29] >> But then that would be true of any

[1:36:31] issue. I I'm I'm just trying to

[1:36:32] understand the consistency there like

[1:36:34] because timeliness does seem to be a

[1:36:36] factor then then just let's not have the

[1:36:37] correspondence at all.

[1:36:38] >> Well, I think I'm hearing two competing

[1:36:40] things. one is uh I heard from councelor

[1:36:44] Paige if we get this right at the cow

[1:36:47] meeting you know with that agenda you

[1:36:50] know there's a lot of other things on

[1:36:51] there do I have a chance to get through

[1:36:53] all that correspondence so

[1:36:55] >> so um

[1:36:58] getting it at the beginning of the month

[1:36:59] and creating that space gives time to

[1:37:01] sort of break up the work you do

[1:37:04] >> uh so that's one principle and the other

[1:37:06] principle how do we make sure timeline

[1:37:08] is so I don't know if there's a solution

[1:37:11] where it's we get that correspondence

[1:37:15] maybe not at the first of the month but

[1:37:16] at the as close you know give you a week

[1:37:20] time

[1:37:21] >> two week something

[1:37:22] >> right so maybe it's just the time when

[1:37:24] we give you the correspondence maybe it

[1:37:26] doesn't have to be the first of the

[1:37:27] month maybe it's from the 15th to the

[1:37:30] 15th or whatever the 10th to the 10th or

[1:37:33] something like that that you know break

[1:37:35] [clears throat] or reduces that gap a

[1:37:38] little bit that gives you the space to

[1:37:40] read it before the cow meeting and also

[1:37:44] is you know not unduly delayed so we can

[1:37:48] look at you know what's reasonable for

[1:37:51] us to get that out and I think as far as

[1:37:53] the detail of it I I think we can

[1:37:56] hyperlink it to you know to the actual

[1:37:58] correspondent so that list you get could

[1:38:01] be hyperl so if you want to pull out

[1:38:04] number 12 you didn't remember it from when it came across you can click

[1:38:09] on number 12 and it'll take you to that

[1:38:11] >> actual for

[1:38:13] >> council

[1:38:13] >> for council. Yeah, that actual letter

[1:38:15] >> councelor Panero and then councelor

[1:38:17] Paige. It just strikes me that I'm just

[1:38:20] trying to think of situations that have

[1:38:22] actually happened sort of like what

[1:38:24] Russell Lockenberg was talking about and

[1:38:26] seems to me that if we had a situation

[1:38:29] like that where and we've seen that a

[1:38:31] number of times a bunch of

[1:38:33] correspondents comes in right before a

[1:38:35] cow meeting for [snorts] example and

[1:38:37] it's something pressing urgent happening

[1:38:40] everybody comes in and you're probably

[1:38:41] going to get public comment about it as

[1:38:43] well

[1:38:44] >> and we do have the ability am I wrong to address public comment if we so

[1:38:53] desire. We don't have to, but if it's

[1:38:55] something that we've gotten, you know,

[1:38:57] whether it's on the correspondence

[1:38:59] package or not, but we've received 40

[1:39:02] emails about it and there's a room full

[1:39:04] of people talking about it, we can then

[1:39:07] say at that point, we're going to refer

[1:39:10] this to the next meeting, which is what

[1:39:12] we would normally do anyway. And so that

[1:39:14] would satisfy

[1:39:16] it's it's not any more timely, but I

[1:39:19] don't see how we would then like we're not addressing it in a substantial

[1:39:25] substantive way anyhow. We mostly just

[1:39:28] refer it to the next meeting if that was

[1:39:30] the thing and we're still free to do

[1:39:31] that whether the whether the

[1:39:33] correspondence package comes here or

[1:39:35] there. So I think that that there's a

[1:39:37] mechanism for exactly what you're saying

[1:39:39] and I think it's a good point that you

[1:39:41] know the public wants to see things

[1:39:43] happening and also there's things that

[1:39:45] are timesensitive.

[1:39:47] The grizzly bear thing being a good

[1:39:49] example. Um and so for those

[1:39:52] timesensitive things I think we have the

[1:39:53] mechanism to act in a timely fashion

[1:39:56] already regardless of what the

[1:39:58] correspondence package does. What the

[1:40:00] correspondence package, this amendment

[1:40:02] might do is just things that maybe

[1:40:05] aren't that maybe don't fill a room full

[1:40:08] of people, but are an action item

[1:40:10] nonetheless. And then we can

[1:40:13] have that be referred in a in a in a

[1:40:16] more sane way than than just dealing

[1:40:20] with it right now on staff where some

[1:40:22] people at the council table aren't

[1:40:24] actually prepared to discuss it

[1:40:25] properly. So does that

[1:40:28] >> Yeah. No, it's on that and I think we

[1:40:29] get that if we if we move the

[1:40:31] correspondence package just to being in

[1:40:34] a in the cow on on the cow days. I mean

[1:40:38] I it's going to be a work in process cuz

[1:40:40] I mean like the whole thing is is like I

[1:40:42] remember used to get all the

[1:40:43] correspondents because in the old days

[1:40:45] you used to get like two 4 in binders

[1:40:47] while now we have everything electronic

[1:40:49] and and like in the old day we we all

[1:40:52] knew that we all saw what we were

[1:40:54] seeing. Nowadays I don't know what

[1:40:55] anybody's seeing, right? Like that's really the the issue is that it's

[1:41:01] and then and how do you how do you

[1:41:03] capture that and you control that? Well,

[1:41:05] you can't because we're all humans and

[1:41:07] we've all got our own personal foibless

[1:41:09] on on how we look at things and um

[1:41:11] address things. And the idea is is that

[1:41:13] as well we try to keep working on

[1:41:15] transparency and accountability is

[1:41:18] making sure that that that people not

[1:41:20] just that that we as a group but also

[1:41:24] the community gets to see or hear what

[1:41:26] kind of correspondence comes across. And

[1:41:28] I think that that as much as we've

[1:41:31] struggled with this in this term, I

[1:41:33] think that we're doing a as as good a

[1:41:36] job as we can do right now given the

[1:41:38] tools we have. I think there's always

[1:41:39] room for um improvement of how we do

[1:41:42] this communication and I think it's a

[1:41:45] work I think this is a work in process

[1:41:48] because of the way communication is is

[1:41:51] changing. I think this is a um a huge

[1:41:55] change.

[1:41:56] So the other area clarification I think

[1:41:59] based on um mayor what you had brought

[1:42:02] up is

[1:42:04] [clears throat] I heard from you even if

[1:42:06] it's operational I would still like to

[1:42:08] hear the answer to that. So I so if

[1:42:13] we're doing that so anything addressed

[1:42:15] to council then even if it's operational

[1:42:18] you would like to see our response to

[1:42:21] that if and we can do that I guess in

[1:42:24] the in that same correspondence or

[1:42:26] >> not I wasn't asking for this in the

[1:42:28] correspondence package. So, I'm going to

[1:42:29] just clarify cuz I just kind of like cuz

[1:42:30] I've been musing about correspondence

[1:42:33] cuz we talk about it periodically during

[1:42:35] our term is the fact that so we get

[1:42:38] these things called online submitts

[1:42:40] which I like drives me crazy just the

[1:42:42] name even. Um [clears throat] and and it

[1:42:44] goes to all of us so we all see it and

[1:42:46] in the background we have um I believe

[1:42:49] it's Stephanie that's in the background

[1:42:50] as a staff person that sees that come in

[1:42:52] because it's coming in and now it's the

[1:42:54] property of the city of Nelson. Um, and often times they're just little

[1:42:59] comments. You you only have so much

[1:43:00] room. So maybe it's a paragraph or um a

[1:43:03] question or whatever. And they're often

[1:43:05] operational as I find. And I don't know

[1:43:07] the rest of you can comment on it. And

[1:43:09] that gets dealt with. But I'd like to be

[1:43:13] able to close the the loop particular

[1:43:15] when it's operational. So if somebody's

[1:43:16] asking the question about why is it 4 in

[1:43:19] that that we plow up versus two that person

[1:43:25] John Doe is going to get a letter back

[1:43:27] from staff from public works that says

[1:43:30] this is the reason why. And I just sort

[1:43:32] of think that it's important for to for

[1:43:35] council to know this is the reason why

[1:43:37] because although we have a policy on

[1:43:38] snowballing and we could all go and look

[1:43:40] at the policy. We're all busy people

[1:43:42] just like the person that asked the

[1:43:43] question. It's just that when that goes

[1:43:45] out, it goes back to that person and

[1:43:47] then it's just CC to council and then

[1:43:50] that person also gets to see that that

[1:43:52] the council has also seen the answer

[1:43:55] that they've gotten

[1:43:56] >> to just close [clears throat] the loop.

[1:43:58] >> Okay. So,

[1:43:58] >> because that's too much to put in the

[1:44:00] correspondence. We get a lot of those.

[1:44:01] So, we were talking staff were talking a

[1:44:05] little bit about this and one of the

[1:44:07] things that came up was

[1:44:10] maybe people submit that form with their

[1:44:14] issue or whatever it is on it to council

[1:44:18] because they don't know where else to

[1:44:19] submit it to them.

[1:44:21] >> And so it ends up being say operational.

[1:44:25] We deal with it. But what I hear you

[1:44:28] saying, mayor, is you would like to be

[1:44:30] CCD or included in the response to it.

[1:44:33] >> Yeah.

[1:44:34] >> Okay.

[1:44:34] >> So, can I ask how that's different than

[1:44:37] what if someone emailed all you guys and

[1:44:39] the same question? So, we don't include

[1:44:41] you on the answer to that one, but we do

[1:44:43] want to council submitt.

[1:44:45] >> Well, it's just so but the email thing

[1:44:47] is different because email could be to

[1:44:50] two of us and I might not even know that

[1:44:52] it got that an email went out, right?

[1:44:54] that online submitt because it's an

[1:44:56] embedded place within our system where

[1:44:59] people can go

[1:45:01] that we all see. I think it would be

[1:45:04] nice to know what the answer was to the

[1:45:08] question.

[1:45:10] The fact that people email us and

[1:45:12] sometimes they email Nelson Counsel,

[1:45:15] >> sometimes they do other things. Um, but

[1:45:18] I think that that online submit, I've

[1:45:19] just always struggled with it because I

[1:45:21] know it's being um answered, but

[1:45:24] sometimes I don't know what the answer

[1:45:26] is. But is that a a question for say a

[1:45:30] Kevin to then come to one of us or

[1:45:34] direct it to the um staff person that's

[1:45:37] the expert in the field whether it's a

[1:45:39] Charlie or a Chris or whatever to get

[1:45:42] the answer and then it comes back to

[1:45:44] Kevin and he provides it to you to

[1:45:47] >> like that's what I'm just asking for.

[1:45:48] the CC that's going

[1:45:49] to go back to the person that's asking

[1:45:50] the question.

[1:45:53] >> Yeah. And Kate's got a question.

[1:45:56] I don't want to we have other things we

[1:45:58] have to do. But Kate,

[1:46:00] >> yeah,

[1:46:02] >> thanks. I just wanted to chime in on two

[1:46:05] little bits there that I think we might

[1:46:06] be able to fix just by adapting the form

[1:46:09] a little bit. I'm curious if we could

[1:46:12] add a little check box at the bottom

[1:46:13] that says, um, if you would like your

[1:46:16] message included officially in an agenda

[1:46:18] package, please include your name and

[1:46:20] address here. So then we're like, okay,

[1:46:22] cool. that goes into correspondence

[1:46:24] whether it's operational or otherwise. I

[1:46:26] think that might clear clear that piece

[1:46:29] of it up. Um it adds more work but

[1:46:33] hopefully the copying and pasting.

[1:46:35] Hopefully most people aren't going to

[1:46:36] want their name and address included.

[1:46:38] You know, some kind of appropriate um

[1:46:41] optin with a disclaimer. And similarly,

[1:46:44] now that I'm thinking about it, the form

[1:46:46] could have some information there that

[1:46:49] says if this um submission is

[1:46:51] operational in nature, please know that

[1:46:53] staff will forward it to the appropriate

[1:46:55] staff person and when the reply comes to

[1:46:58] you, council will be CCD. So that kind

[1:47:00] of clarity for the submitter and for all

[1:47:03] of us, I think might clear up like who,

[1:47:07] what, where. Um,

[1:47:10] yeah, that that's my suggestion to kind

[1:47:12] of simplify some of those processes

[1:47:14] because then the submitter is kind of

[1:47:16] opting into

[1:47:18] these questions.

[1:47:20] >> Could

[1:47:20] >> what do you think,

[1:47:21] >> councelor Tate? Do you think that we

[1:47:23] could ask a question? Is this

[1:47:25] >> Yeah.

[1:47:26] >> Um, do you is this intended for council

[1:47:29] or is this an operational question or

[1:47:32] >> Yeah. Great.

[1:47:33] >> Yeah. I mean that or you or even you

[1:47:36] could put that but folks might not know

[1:47:38] but then the then the initial response

[1:47:42] to the person can say hey just so you

[1:47:44] know this is operational we forward it

[1:47:46] to such and such and I know you do that

[1:47:48] already but if it's on the form page

[1:47:51] right there um then that helps people

[1:47:54] understand you know Kate Tate's not

[1:47:56] going to reply to this complaint about

[1:47:58] the snow plowing at this time because

[1:47:59] Kate is not in operations right but then

[1:48:02] if it comes back on the second go. Now,

[1:48:05] hopefully this doesn't cause frustration

[1:48:06] because I I don't want there to be

[1:48:07] frustration, but like um the CIO

[1:48:10] mentioned, well, if people are like,

[1:48:11] "Your policyy's stupid, Kate Tate.

[1:48:13] Please do something about that." Well,

[1:48:15] then that's in a different step and

[1:48:17] that's also a different communication.

[1:48:19] So, it might be worthwhile to somehow

[1:48:21] kind of give just upfront give a little

[1:48:23] bit of information about how operational

[1:48:26] questions will be responded to.

[1:48:30] >> Okay, I like that. But it still doesn't

[1:48:33] I don't think address the issue of does

[1:48:36] council see the response from staff if

[1:48:40] it's an operational question does it?

[1:48:42] Well, I think

[1:48:44] >> let's refine let's talk about the

[1:48:46] options because I think we don't have to

[1:48:48] call it operational council. We could

[1:48:50] say would you like

[1:48:52] >> u would you like this to go to a council

[1:48:54] meeting uh or would you like you know or

[1:48:57] something like that. I think we can come

[1:48:58] up with something that doesn't make the

[1:49:00] person try to figure out where where it

[1:49:03] should go. Um um um so I think if we do

[1:49:08] that then I do agree like does council

[1:49:12] want to see every time someone we send

[1:49:15] somebody yeah it's our policy is 4 in or

[1:49:20] no we yes we did come by and pick up

[1:49:23] your garbage and you clearly didn't have

[1:49:25] it out on on time or no our plow truck

[1:49:28] did not go by your your house at that

[1:49:31] time our our GPS. Our truck was nowhere

[1:49:35] in the in the thing. Like, how deep in those things do you want to go?

[1:49:40] >> Can I can I just ask a question? And I

[1:49:43] think this question I it feels like

[1:49:44] we're belaboring it a bit. However, I

[1:49:46] think this is actually pretty

[1:49:50] it's it's bigger than it than it looks

[1:49:52] or could could be bigger than it looks

[1:49:54] on two ways. Number one is let's say we

[1:49:57] get everything. We just get it all. get

[1:50:00] everything that's the public writes to

[1:50:02] us and then and the response and it goes

[1:50:04] into a database or folder that we

[1:50:07] technically have that already. It's just

[1:50:09] kind of our access to it. Yeah.

[1:50:11] >> So let's say we do we give give council

[1:50:13] access and then there's a layer on top

[1:50:16] we already have basically is an AI layer

[1:50:19] where you can just query it tell me and we just make it a practice as a

[1:50:24] council that if you have any questions

[1:50:26] you don't have to read everything you

[1:50:28] can get summaries you can inquire

[1:50:31] through the AI to pull out any detail

[1:50:34] >> agent or something

[1:50:35] >> some sort of agent can do that's not a

[1:50:37] problem so so I think that's something

[1:50:41] we should do. There's since there's

[1:50:43] really no reason not to just make that

[1:50:44] service available to council. And then

[1:50:47] secondly, communicating to the public

[1:50:50] that council has that capability I think

[1:50:53] would really help because I think one of

[1:50:55] the challenges that the public has with

[1:50:59] local governments generally, but ours in

[1:51:01] particular, is this sense of like I

[1:51:04] can't get through this. the form is too

[1:51:06] short or I don't feel like I'm getting

[1:51:09] heard or whatever. But and if we had

[1:51:12] that system, then someone like um

[1:51:15] counselor Payne could just like pull up

[1:51:18] everything related to culture or

[1:51:20] housing, tell me all the correspondents

[1:51:22] that we've had related to housing and

[1:51:24] she can then come to the meeting pretty

[1:51:27] prepared to pull out something that she

[1:51:30] feels

[1:51:32] >> come up with the solution and

[1:51:33] everything. Yeah, I can come up with a

[1:51:34] solution [laughter] and solve it. And

[1:51:35] she doesn't even she can come up with a

[1:51:37] solution. But that I I think if we've

[1:51:39] got it all right now, that's probably

[1:51:40] what we can just provide that capability

[1:51:43] to council and let the public know on

[1:51:46] the form that their um email or their

[1:51:51] message is available to to council.

[1:51:56] Um

[1:51:57] if if if even need if they even need to

[1:52:00] know that. I think some would appreciate

[1:52:01] that. Otherwise, they're going to keep

[1:52:03] hammering away to try to feel like I

[1:52:05] need to get this to council. But if

[1:52:07] they're told

[1:52:07] >> well I mean it tells you right there

[1:52:09] like you know when you read that online

[1:52:10] submitt I'm just talking about just one

[1:52:12] way that we get communication from the

[1:52:13] public just about the online submittal

[1:52:15] form and it tells you like when you send

[1:52:18] that it it says there in the header if

[1:52:20] you read them that this has been

[1:52:22] received by council and you will get and

[1:52:24] you will be receiving a response.

[1:52:26] >> Right.

[1:52:27] >> Yeah.

[1:52:28] >> So it's already there. I don't know what

[1:52:29] we would change. We could we could write

[1:52:32] it nicer maybe or fluffier or

[1:52:34] >> Yeah. [laughter] or nothing at all.

[1:52:36] Maybe we've got it all. As long as

[1:52:37] council does have the ability to both

[1:52:40] see everything that comes in in a in a way that you don't have to kind of

[1:52:44] scan through your emails every time. You

[1:52:45] could just query it and you see the

[1:52:47] response.

[1:52:48] >> Yeah. I just wanted to see the response

[1:52:49] to those those particular ones.

[1:52:52] >> Yeah. Yes. So is that then sort of our

[1:52:56] preferred method of communication then

[1:52:59] is we're going to direct people through

[1:53:00] this because there's a system that

[1:53:02] manages this versus if you're going to

[1:53:05] email individuals or everyone or because

[1:53:08] we seem to be treating those as

[1:53:10] different things. I choose to email all

[1:53:13] you

[1:53:14] >> um then you have access to the answer to

[1:53:18] that or or not is I think some of the

[1:53:21] where you have where we we need to have

[1:53:23] some consistency because I don't know

[1:53:25] necessarily the way you do it should

[1:53:28] dictate sort of how we handle that.

[1:53:31] Well, I don't know that you can control

[1:53:32] email.

[1:53:33] >> Currently, when we apply like sort of as

[1:53:36] a practice, uh if a question comes in

[1:53:39] from a counselor,

[1:53:41] >> we as staff reply to [clears throat]

[1:53:44] all of you, right?

[1:53:45] >> If it comes into

[1:53:46] >> if it's Yeah. So, I guess, you know, if

[1:53:49] council has access to see the items and

[1:53:53] a counselor or, you know, someone from

[1:53:55] council or mayor sees something that

[1:53:57] they'd like to see a response on,

[1:53:59] perhaps it could be as easy as sending,

[1:54:02] hey, I'd love to see the response to

[1:54:04] this, right? And, you know, is that a

[1:54:06] possibility that we do it more of as a

[1:54:08] one-off than as a rule? Um because I can

[1:54:11] tell you again, you know, uh 99% of the

[1:54:14] time that I get a request from a

[1:54:16] counselor, I will respond to you all

[1:54:19] with the the answer once we figured it

[1:54:21] out. Uh and it's because that counselor

[1:54:24] took the time and said, you know, I'm

[1:54:25] interested in this. What's going on or

[1:54:26] whatever, right? Like what's the the

[1:54:28] story? Similarly, if that inquiry comes

[1:54:31] in, whether whatever format it comes in,

[1:54:34] you know, as it comes in to be able to

[1:54:35] send to staff that, you know, hey, I'm

[1:54:38] really interested in the answer to this

[1:54:39] and that'll just trigger us. We don't

[1:54:41] provide an answer to just a single

[1:54:43] counselor, right? We provide a tall of

[1:54:44] counsel so everybody's on equal footing.

[1:54:46] Everybody has the same knowledge. So, is

[1:54:48] that what could that resolve? I don't I

[1:54:52] don't think it has to be that

[1:54:53] complicated. Like what I'm what I'm

[1:54:55] imagining is if the the correspondence

[1:54:59] and the replies are going into some

[1:55:01] repository somewhere

[1:55:03] >> then AI can do anything we want. We

[1:55:06] could say just as a counselor I could

[1:55:08] say give me a weekly summary of it. give

[1:55:10] me a weekly summary on on housing issues

[1:55:12] or give me a weekly summary on

[1:55:14] everything and break it down and then I

[1:55:16] can query it to say, "Oh, I'm interested

[1:55:18] in did they ever send an email before

[1:55:20] and what did council or what did staff

[1:55:22] reply to?" Do you know what I mean? Like

[1:55:24] >> and I I hear that. I think that there's,

[1:55:27] you know, and and we might get there.

[1:55:28] There's a fair amount of work on the

[1:55:30] back end because that might go to any

[1:55:32] number of staff to respond to. And I

[1:55:34] guess what we'd have to be doing on the

[1:55:36] staff side is saving this into a

[1:55:38] repository, dumping it there for then AI

[1:55:40] to be able to glean the information.

[1:55:42] >> But my my premise going back was that

[1:55:45] we're kind of doing that already in that

[1:55:48] if we were going to build a package to

[1:55:50] bring to offer to council,

[1:55:52] >> you're you're doing that work.

[1:55:53] >> So why don't we talk about the

[1:55:56] principles of what you know, let's we

[1:55:58] can look at the tools. So the principle

[1:56:01] what is you know Sarah said there are

[1:56:03] some things that are clearly operational

[1:56:06] that we could just respond to and keep

[1:56:09] council out of it. You don't need to be

[1:56:11] part of that. Um and there's things that

[1:56:13] are clearly council that are policy

[1:56:15] decisions. So that's one way we could do

[1:56:18] it. um the mayor is you know suggested

[1:56:22] hey at least on the council submitt I'd

[1:56:26] be interested in even if it's

[1:56:27] operational to hear that answer so I

[1:56:30] think that's one principle that we need

[1:56:32] to understand so if if you do then we

[1:56:36] can decide you know it's a tool such as

[1:56:38] you suggested a way to make that more

[1:56:41] effective and efficient um so so I think

[1:56:45] that what you want to see is the

[1:56:48] beginning of of it all.

[1:56:51] >> I mean, and I think it's a

[1:56:56] there's some good ideas about the house.

[1:56:58] Like there's some good the principle for

[1:57:00] me

[1:57:02] is we can improve the online submittable

[1:57:05] form. Uh I like the idea of checking a

[1:57:08] box saying I'd like my correspondence

[1:57:10] included in an upcoming public meeting.

[1:57:14] Uh, and so it's then treated as a letter

[1:57:17] that's been signed. And I would add an

[1:57:20] attach file opportunity right after that

[1:57:23] box that's not required. The box is

[1:57:26] something that you drop down and get to

[1:57:27] select and say yay or nay just to make

[1:57:29] it explicit. I'm treating this like

[1:57:32] correspondence. I want this to be a

[1:57:34] political statement I'm making. I want

[1:57:36] this to be you should shift policy. And

[1:57:38] that turns it into correspondence. We

[1:57:40] treat like correspondence. and you add

[1:57:42] the attachment, it maybe induces you to

[1:57:44] write down a word doc, which sometimes

[1:57:46] when you're expressing those things

[1:57:47] versus a box, you still get the box, but

[1:57:49] the attach file B is like your

[1:57:51] well-refined version of what you're

[1:57:53] trying to say. And that might spawn some

[1:57:56] people [clears throat] to do that letter

[1:57:57] instead of just what they put in the

[1:57:58] box, which would be an upgrade. And if

[1:58:01] they don't, just like email, right? It's

[1:58:04] a request. You now know there's a

[1:58:05] problem over on in Fair View for a bin

[1:58:08] to be picked up. Staff are by there.

[1:58:09] They actually already picked it up. And

[1:58:11] if we're curious, uh, we will reach out

[1:58:14] and say, "Hey, what do you know about

[1:58:15] that?" And if one of us is curious,

[1:58:16] that's usually an indicative of staff

[1:58:18] sending something back out to everybody

[1:58:20] just to close the loop. I'm okay with

[1:58:22] how that's all been running. But I do

[1:58:25] think Kate's point on just a little bit

[1:58:27] more on the form to say you you are

[1:58:29] turning this into a correspondence by

[1:58:30] doing these additional actions.

[1:58:32] Otherwise, it's just staff's going to be

[1:58:34] in this little pieces attached around

[1:58:36] here. Well, I've already told you it's

[1:58:38] an operational kind of 311 request which

[1:58:41] we don't have.

[1:58:43] And one day we'll have a service work

[1:58:46] order system and we'll get some sort of

[1:58:48] report that tells us requests in

[1:58:50] requests out by department and success

[1:58:53] >> rates there, but we don't have that yet.

[1:58:56] So

[1:58:57] >> I'd wait for that system. Are

[1:59:00] >> those online submittal things? I guess

[1:59:04] my only question would be

[1:59:06] Some of those are like very clearly

[1:59:09] operational questions and have nothing

[1:59:11] to do with anything else. It's just like

[1:59:14] >> you didn't pick up my garbage.

[1:59:16] >> Yeah. And so because I'm pissed about my

[1:59:20] garbage or how much snow is in my lane

[1:59:22] or whatever, I might tick that box

[1:59:26] because when I'm upset, I want everybody

[1:59:28] to know about it. doesn't mean that it

[1:59:31] necessarily belongs

[1:59:34] in in their

[1:59:36] >> response.

[1:59:36] >> Yeah.

[1:59:38] >> Push the button. I mean, we just push

[1:59:40] that button.

[1:59:41] >> They get to they get to say

[1:59:42] >> they get to decide

[1:59:43] >> that it's a letter.

[1:59:44] >> The sender gets to decide

[1:59:45] >> and then we just get to decide to

[1:59:47] >> Well, then it just goes in

[1:59:48] correspondence. So, you're going to read

[1:59:49] it when you get the

[1:59:50] >> We do that. We have people that'll come

[1:59:52] in and Yeah.

[1:59:53] >> Yeah.

[1:59:53] >> Write a letter on a piece.

[1:59:55] >> Provide a letter and Yeah. that it could

[1:59:57] have it goes in the correspondence

[1:59:59] package.

[1:59:59] >> Yeah, it goes in the correspondence

[2:00:00] package for the cow.

[2:00:01] >> Okay, fine. [snorts]

[2:00:05] >> Okay, so I'm going to move along to the

[2:00:07] action item listing, everyone's favorite

[2:00:09] thing.

[2:00:12] Um, so you adopted a new action item

[2:00:16] listing policy on February 3rd and the

[2:00:19] purpose of the policy was to help manage

[2:00:21] staff workload

[2:00:23] um and to provide a structured way to

[2:00:25] track ideas or matters that arise from

[2:00:27] council. Um, a key point is that the

[2:00:30] action item listing does not on its own

[2:00:33] constitute direction to staff. Staff

[2:00:35] direction still needs to come from

[2:00:37] council as a body through a formal

[2:00:39] resolution.

[2:00:42] Um items that do not receive a

[2:00:45] resolution do are not added to the

[2:00:47] action item listing.

[2:00:50] Um the policy is intended to create a

[2:00:53] kind of parking lot for council ideas.

[2:00:55] It allows council to identify matters

[2:00:57] that may be considered in the future

[2:00:58] without immediately redirecting staff

[2:01:01] resources or work plans. The policy also

[2:01:04] reinforces that staff resources should

[2:01:06] be directed to matters formally endorsed

[2:01:08] by councils during quarterly or periodic

[2:01:11] reviews. Council will take a look at the

[2:01:15] um action item listing and decide

[2:01:17] whether an item should move forward or

[2:01:19] not and where it goes and how we address

[2:01:22] it. Um

[2:01:26] so um we need to determine we need to

[2:01:31] clarify the scope and whether the item

[2:01:33] should be removed.

[2:01:35] Um and we need to decide whether

[2:01:38] individual requests for information can

[2:01:40] still be made through the CAO which

[2:01:44] I don't know. I'm thinking yeah. Uh the

[2:01:47] action item listing is intended to deal

[2:01:48] with council generated matters that

[2:01:50] require tracking, formal consideration

[2:01:52] or future direction. So

[2:01:56] um I need to know from you council um

[2:02:01] are you satisfied with the action item

[2:02:04] listing policy as it is right now or do

[2:02:08] you want would you like to see changes

[2:02:09] to it?

[2:02:11] >> I like it.

[2:02:13] >> So formal resolution

[2:02:16] if if on a topic or a subject it goes to

[2:02:21] um a quarterly or budget meeting. Yeah,

[2:02:25] I think maybe [clears throat] some of

[2:02:27] the

[2:02:30] uh some of the additional work we can do

[2:02:32] is is just making sure we have time to

[2:02:36] talk about those things and say you know you know councelor Panero said

[2:02:41] sometimes things become sort of hot

[2:02:44] items and then they go well actually you

[2:02:46] know the world didn't end so we don't

[2:02:48] really need to change the world so maybe

[2:02:50] we don't need to spend a bunch of staff

[2:02:52] time on this so maybe we'll just build

[2:02:54] and you know a six-month review or there

[2:02:57] some of these things that are just not

[2:03:00] worth spending time. We're not really

[2:03:02] going to take it to strategic priorities

[2:03:04] or we're not really going to uh put it

[2:03:06] on a staff's work work plan or whatever.

[2:03:08] Let's have a second sober thought a

[2:03:11] little bit later or this one is actually

[2:03:13] we're hearing more and more about this.

[2:03:14] We need to actually get it on someone's

[2:03:17] work plan and deal with it. So I think

[2:03:19] if we just build in a

[2:03:21] >> I know but we put it on the agenda and

[2:03:25] it it garers about five minutes of it's

[2:03:28] at the end of the day and and a long

[2:03:31] meeting and it garers you know five

[2:03:33] minutes of let's just move on. So I

[2:03:36] think if we just build in some

[2:03:38] >> I have a question in terms of Yes. So I

[2:03:41] mean we you need to I mean you have to

[2:03:43] review the parking lot. There has to be

[2:03:45] enough time for it.

[2:03:46] Um I'm looking at the proposed best

[2:03:48] practice and and it says about doing it

[2:03:50] on a regular and I don't really

[2:03:51] particularly care which meeting is but

[2:03:53] my question is more to um Mr. Jury and

[2:03:56] that is do we do the quarterly

[2:04:01] updates at a regular meeting or are

[2:04:03] those usually at a cow?

[2:04:05] I mean, it's hard with the Q2 because,

[2:04:08] you know, timing wise, I have to wait

[2:04:10] till everything kind of comes in and

[2:04:12] then I look at it and I say we only have

[2:04:13] one meeting in August. So, it's a bit

[2:04:15] challenging, but

[2:04:16] >> Q2 is on the regular meeting.

[2:04:18] >> Yeah.

[2:04:19] >> For tonight.

[2:04:20] >> Yeah. It's on this agenda,

[2:04:21] >> but you know, if if there's preference

[2:04:23] to ensure that it's in a cow for the Q3

[2:04:25] that

[2:04:26] >> Yeah. I don't know. I was just I'm just

[2:04:27] looking at this know in terms of the

[2:04:28] fact I just was thinking um was there

[2:04:30] did it make any sense to try to line up

[2:04:33] >> the doing a quarterly financial update

[2:04:37] and then be looking at the action list

[2:04:40] thinking about what the strategic plan

[2:04:42] is so that it almost becomes like a

[2:04:45] again a a conversation

[2:04:47] around like so I'm just trying to figure

[2:04:49] out does does that does the action list

[2:04:51] have to be in a regular or when we

[2:04:53] normally hear this is in the cow. So

[2:04:55] again that we would say on those means

[2:04:57] we see those two things together so that

[2:04:59] we know that X is on the action list and we're hearing what the finances are

[2:05:06] here and we've got staff in the room and

[2:05:10] are is this can we now action this for

[2:05:13] either one we've got room in somebody's

[2:05:16] work plan or two we just won the lottery

[2:05:20] and now can afford to do the work Like

[2:05:25] it would there be any not that we're

[2:05:26] going to mind meld them together but to

[2:05:29] of being able to hear what the financial

[2:05:31] position of the city is and then to hear

[2:05:35] where we are on the the action list like

[2:05:39] to sort of hear those at the same kind

[2:05:42] of time or have had that opportunity to

[2:05:44] have reviewed the the math and then

[2:05:47] looked at the wish list. Like I'm just

[2:05:50] thinking about could they be um looked

[2:05:52] at as potentially being together in

[2:05:54] terms of when quarterly we review them

[2:05:59] >> and maybe we just [clears throat]

[2:06:01] dedicate a cow meeting more specifically

[2:06:04] to

[2:06:04] >> and then we know that we're going to spend like at least 90

[2:06:08] minutes and those are going to like

[2:06:09] >> workshop. Yeah.

[2:06:11] >> Yeah. Like that's sort of like the

[2:06:12] workshop on on those days and that and

[2:06:14] we do it that way because you know

[2:06:17] sometimes it's like we have a light

[2:06:18] meeting and we we're all full

[2:06:20] [clears throat] of cake and goodness and

[2:06:22] we're thinking actionless. Oh yeah,

[2:06:24] these are all good actions. Let's try to

[2:06:25] do something with them. But you know

[2:06:26] what's the financial implication

[2:06:27] sometimes of some of the things on the

[2:06:29] action list? But just to me it just it

[2:06:31] kind of makes it into a bundle and

[2:06:33] that's that's a thing that you do that

[2:06:34] night to make sure that you have the

[2:06:36] discussion time. Mhm.

[2:06:38] >> Well, and I think the other piece we can

[2:06:40] roll into that is is that strategic

[2:06:43] priority update. Yeah.

[2:06:45] >> You know, we went over with the mayor

[2:06:47] today on um we meet every month or so

[2:06:51] and we went over sort of our what we

[2:06:54] call our

[2:06:55] >> uh sort of major projects list and and

[2:06:59] we can sort of build that in and you

[2:07:01] know here's here's sort of the bigger

[2:07:03] picture of what's going on. here's where

[2:07:04] we're spending our time and you know

[2:07:06] where does some of these new ideas fit

[2:07:08] in with sort of what's on the plate. So

[2:07:11] you get that fuller picture of of where

[2:07:15] we are financially where we're on our

[2:07:17] you know our strategic priorities or you

[2:07:20] know our our major projects and here are

[2:07:23] some of the new things that people want

[2:07:24] us to sort of deal with.

[2:07:28] Counc,

[2:07:29] >> I don't know if this is the same thing

[2:07:31] you're saying or a separate thing I I'm

[2:07:33] saying. Uh, but to me, I look at the

[2:07:35] action report, which is a direction to

[2:07:37] Kevin, and I would pull that particular

[2:07:40] report into the city manager report

[2:07:42] section of the agenda, and we would

[2:07:44] provide his typical city managers uh

[2:07:48] additionals that you write down. I'm not

[2:07:50] asking for a report, but then this

[2:07:51] report also becomes the basis of that

[2:07:53] conversation, which we would then budget

[2:07:55] more time for.

[2:07:56] >> Yeah. Um, and it lives there because

[2:07:59] it's our direction and where they are.

[2:08:01] And sometimes there'll be things we want

[2:08:02] to bring up because we've seen it over

[2:08:04] and over and other times stuff's changed

[2:08:06] and it becomes the basis for you to

[2:08:08] reflect back what's changed, what's

[2:08:10] coming off, why things are finished,

[2:08:12] what new things were added. because I

[2:08:14] think that you know while we know that

[2:08:16] the city has work plans spread across

[2:08:18] the board that when you're doing the

[2:08:20] when staff is doing the work plan for um

[2:08:24] city council in terms it's not like we

[2:08:25] don't know when our meetings are and

[2:08:28] that we that on that calendar you can

[2:08:32] schedule um this is this is what happens

[2:08:36] on four times a year right like and I

[2:08:39] think it pulls it together and then we

[2:08:41] don't scramble as much sometimes as when

[2:08:43] are trying to figure out how everything

[2:08:46] relates um together. And they could be a very informative um cow

[2:08:52] meeting where there's just more freedom

[2:08:55] of discussion without looking for

[2:08:58] motions and and whatever.

[2:09:01] >> Well, and one of the big things right

[2:09:03] now is just just that consistency um

[2:09:07] right finding spaces in our agenda. And

[2:09:09] it's also just

[2:09:11] we'll be somewhat subjective because at

[2:09:13] the other side of October a different

[2:09:15] group of people might want to so with

[2:09:18] some hesitation. So let's just keep

[2:09:19] being consistent in getting the report

[2:09:20] out

[2:09:21] >> getting those updates. We'll find that

[2:09:23] space to have a better conversation and

[2:09:25] another group might want to do something

[2:09:26] different.

[2:09:27] >> Yeah.

[2:09:28] >> But it's just an idea that it's an idea

[2:09:30] now that they can see in the minutes or

[2:09:31] when they review this council meeting

[2:09:33] that that you know

[2:09:34] >> we did the first one tonight. We've got

[2:09:36] the quarterly report and the

[2:09:38] >> and we're doing action items. [laughter]

[2:09:41] >> So, the last thing I want to go over

[2:09:42] really quick and I'll take one minute to

[2:09:44] do it is the difference between um a

[2:09:46] notice of motion and the action item

[2:09:49] >> twisting. So, is that okay with

[2:09:51] everyone?

[2:09:52] >> Um

[2:09:54] so, a notice of motion is a mechanism

[2:09:56] for a counselor to formally introduce

[2:09:58] new council business. It requires

[2:10:01] advanced written notice 10 days and

[2:10:04] includes a proposed resolution. It is

[2:10:06] designed to lead council towards

[2:10:08] consideration

[2:10:10] um considering the motion. An action

[2:10:12] item is different. It is a mechanism for

[2:10:14] council to capture and track matters for

[2:10:16] possible future work. Um any an idea may

[2:10:19] arise during a council meeting and

[2:10:21] council may resolve to place that idea

[2:10:23] on the action item listing. Um, however,

[2:10:26] placing an item on the list does not

[2:10:28] necessarily mean council is immediately

[2:10:30] considering the full matter.

[2:10:35] Okay. Um, the distinction is important

[2:10:37] because a notice of motion primarily

[2:10:39] governs council procedure while the

[2:10:41] action item listing is primarily about

[2:10:44] work planning, tracking, and protecting

[2:10:47] staff resources.

[2:10:50] Um so in practical terms a notice of

[2:10:53] motion is a formal pathway to introduce

[2:10:55] business for debate and decision and an

[2:10:57] action item u matter is a tracking of

[2:11:02] and a planning tool. It helps um council

[2:11:05] identify matters it may want to revisit

[2:11:07] while allowing staff to understand what

[2:11:09] has been formally endorsed and what

[2:11:10] remains for possible future

[2:11:12] consideration.

[2:11:14] That's it.

[2:11:18] questions.

[2:11:20] >> I have actually one. Sorry,

[2:11:23] >> it's going back a bit because I thought

[2:11:25] we were going to finish and then ask

[2:11:26] questions, but

[2:11:28] >> just be fast. What's the definition of

[2:11:31] repetitive

[2:11:33] uh letters that aren't included? And cuz

[2:11:36] I just I see some of the like like for

[2:11:39] example like a like a big thing that

[2:11:42] everybody's very mobilized about

[2:11:45] oftentimes it will turn into a form

[2:11:47] letter and we'll get like 700 of them.

[2:11:50] >> Is that what you're talking about or

[2:11:52] not?

[2:11:53] >> Yes.

[2:11:54] >> That or so there's that is one topic one

[2:11:57] kind of repetitive letter. So, form

[2:12:00] letter or um somebody an individual will

[2:12:04] keep on and they often do this um keep

[2:12:07] on sending in correspondence to

[2:12:10] different staff members

[2:12:12] >> about the same

[2:12:12] >> the same thing but looking for a

[2:12:14] specific answer and maybe not getting it

[2:12:16] or receiving an answer but not the

[2:12:19] answer that they

[2:12:20] >> in the former case the the form letter

[2:12:22] thing like obviously we've seen that a

[2:12:24] bunch over the years like and it's

[2:12:26] actually like we we'll get a bunch of

[2:12:28] those and then the room will fill. So,

[2:12:30] it's something that I think like we are

[2:12:32] getting at least one of those letters in

[2:12:34] the

[2:12:34] >> Yes.

[2:12:35] >> in the thing. It's not that we don't

[2:12:37] include it because it's a form letter.

[2:12:38] We include one or two of them and then

[2:12:41] the other seven.

[2:12:42] >> I think we've seen that it was like

[2:12:44] >> Yeah. Okay.

[2:12:45] >> We get the number like multiple.

[2:12:46] >> Yeah.

[2:12:47] >> It's like ostriches.

[2:12:49] >> Yes.

[2:12:50] >> That's it. We got 50 of these same

[2:12:53] >> 50 [clears throat]

[2:12:56] six or seven in front of that number.

[2:12:58] Time to Yes. Can I have a motion to uh

[2:13:02] recess for dinner? By councelor Payne,

[2:13:05] seconded by councelor Panero. All in

[2:13:07] favor? That carries.

[2:13:11] Councelor Tate, you'll join us again at

[2:13:15] seven.

[2:13:17] >> Okay. Thank

[2:13:18] >> Yes, I will. Thank you. Okay.

[2:13:22] >> Should I leave the meeting and rejoin or

[2:13:25] should I just like go off? Do you close

[2:13:27] the meeting for the recess?

[2:13:34] You're on mute so I can't hear you if

[2:13:36] you're replying to me.

[2:13:37] >> Can you hear me?

[2:13:38] >> Okay. You to um log off and then log

[2:13:42] back in. She'll let you back in at

[2:13:43] seven.

[2:13:44] >> Okay. Thank you.

[2:13:46] Sorry.

[2:15:24] Yeah, it worked out.

[2:15:28] >> Okay, welcome back everybody. If I could

[2:15:30] have a motion to reconvene

[2:15:33] by councelor Pero, seconded by councelor

[2:15:35] Lockenberg. All those in favor? Opposed?

[2:15:38] And that carries. So council, we are on

[2:15:40] item number seven, the city manager's

[2:15:43] verbal report. So over to you, Kevin.

[2:15:47] Sure.

[2:15:52] Um like I said, we did go over sort of

[2:15:56] our major projects list with the mayor.

[2:15:59] So maybe just briefly, um liquid waste

[2:16:03] management plan is still in progress.

[2:16:08] uh fourth main I think everyone's aware

[2:16:10] we did get the 7 million for that

[2:16:14] project and um we're in design for that

[2:16:18] construction starts next year

[2:16:28] uh fire master plan again we of course

[2:16:34] have done the staffing this year uh for

[2:16:37] that. Uh third party dispatch is going

[2:16:40] well. Our overtime is down

[2:16:42] significantly. So definitely way less on

[2:16:45] that. Um [clears throat] we will be

[2:16:48] bringing a parks operational plan to

[2:16:51] council here hopefully within while

[2:16:54] you're still here in this term. And

[2:16:55] that's really looking at our you know

[2:16:58] first of all what um [clears throat]

[2:17:00] classifying our parks. Are they you know

[2:17:02] parks that we want to maintain to a high

[2:17:05] standard or

[2:17:08] lack a better word, rule standard and

[2:17:10] what what's the level of resourcing we

[2:17:12] need and we just so council have a

[2:17:16] chance to sort of make those uh service

[2:17:19] level decisions. you know, we're

[2:17:22] certainly hearing from our staff and

[2:17:26] um and our supervisors that we're just

[2:17:29] it's really difficult to maintain those

[2:17:32] parks to a standard that we think uh

[2:17:34] council would like to see them maintain

[2:17:36] to. So, so be bringing that forward.

[2:17:40] That will be really more of a budget

[2:17:42] discussion ultimately.

[2:17:44] um

[2:17:46] garbage and recycling modernization.

[2:17:49] I think you're aware that that was um

[2:17:52] presented by Charlie Henderson back in

[2:17:55] budget. We haven't made a ton of um

[2:17:58] progress on there. Although Chris told

[2:18:00] me today that he you know we did some

[2:18:02] costing of of providing that service and

[2:18:06] we've also gone to third parties to see

[2:18:08] what the potential cost for a third

[2:18:11] party provider. So, we'll be bringing

[2:18:13] that again. That might be um

[2:18:18] uh after the uh

[2:18:21] election.

[2:18:22] Um

[2:18:26] soccer and uh the civic arena. feel

[2:18:29] that's on the agenda tonight to look at

[2:18:31] a policy of how we manage those until we

[2:18:35] um the [clears throat] soccer we've done

[2:18:37] some upgrades but again these old

[2:18:40] buildings structurally are don't meet

[2:18:42] the current building code um

[2:18:49] what else we have

[2:18:52] uh the Lakeside Drive bridge um that is scheduled to be uh uh replaced. It's

[2:19:02] at end of life and we'll look at we are

[2:19:05] looking at a two-lane bridge [cough]

[2:19:08] access [clears throat] for that. Um so

[2:19:11] this is one that we may look at a design

[2:19:13] built and work to the industry of here's

[2:19:16] what we need you

[2:19:19] give us proposals of how you deliver

[2:19:21] that.

[2:19:23] Um,

[2:19:30] NG911.

[2:19:32] I think we're included.

[2:19:34] >> I think October 28th is the date that

[2:19:37] we've tenatively scheduled to go live on

[2:19:40] that one.

[2:19:43] » Pending successful testing with Telus,

[2:19:46] but we're still progressing towards that

[2:19:47] date.

[2:19:50] >> Recreation review. Not quite sure where

[2:19:52] that's kind of at these days. I know

[2:19:55] we're trying to find a a date to

[2:19:59] make that happen, get the parties

[2:20:01] together.

[2:20:05] As far as the park service, again, um

[2:20:09] you know, this one, you know, we did ask

[2:20:11] for more funding last year. We'll ask

[2:20:13] for more funding again. And part of that

[2:20:15] was to, you know, do that um have that

[2:20:18] meeting and identify what

[2:20:21] that level of of

[2:20:24] service that's expected how that should

[2:20:26] be uh shared between the partners. Uh

[2:20:30] the good news is on the on the renewal

[2:20:34] of the of the washroom facilities, the

[2:20:36] bath houses there, there is a CBT grant

[2:20:39] um that they created called SHORE, I

[2:20:41] believe. Can't remember what the acronym

[2:20:45] stands for. So we did get money for the

[2:20:47] design part of that. First part is is to

[2:20:50] do the uh redesign of that and I think

[2:20:53] we got 30 or 40,000 which will cover

[2:20:56] that cost of the design. And then

[2:20:59] there's a uh after we do that then there

[2:21:02] will be an opening for capital money and

[2:21:04] I think up to 500,000. So that should

[2:21:07] hopefully uh if we're successful address

[2:21:10] that and I think the fact that they gave

[2:21:12] us design money as they'll be open to

[2:21:16] [clears throat] the capital side of it.

[2:21:19] uh on the IT uh side uh we did do a uh

[2:21:24] what we called the roadmap to really

[2:21:26] look at our IT and how it's structured

[2:21:29] and and um you know how we do things and

[2:21:33] we we used a consultant for that and one

[2:21:36] of the things they clearly identified

[2:21:38] was you know needing that someone

[2:21:41] dedicated to IT so we have hired an IT

[2:21:45] manager that will manage the GIS as well

[2:21:49] Uh so he's Chris doing that.

[2:21:51] >> Yeah. I mean he's coming tonight um

[2:21:53] because we have something in the in

[2:21:54] camera that relates to him. So he'll be

[2:21:56] here later tonight. We can introduce you

[2:21:58] to him. His name's Adam Tero. So yeah.

[2:22:02] >> Yeah. So he's really he's got that road

[2:22:05] mapap for voluntarizing himself how we

[2:22:08] do things here and and uh yeah we'll you

[2:22:12] know get focused around how do we kind

[2:22:14] of you know one of the big areas is we

[2:22:18] need to look at how we

[2:22:21] you know we have all these various

[2:22:22] different pieces of software for

[2:22:25] different um you know different

[2:22:28] departments etc. want to standardize

[2:22:30] more around some key software, GIS, um,

[2:22:34] Office

[2:22:36] 365, etc. So, how do we use those key

[2:22:39] tools or MS 365

[2:22:42] and that relates to records management?

[2:22:44] So, again, he's working with Sarah and

[2:22:46] her team on what platform ultimately our

[2:22:49] records reside on. uh GIS is I think

[2:22:54] we're pretty well there with

[2:22:56] transitioning the data from the RD to

[2:22:59] our GIS system. I think, you know, we

[2:23:03] just need to check with Adam and and

[2:23:07] Greg whether we can give notice. You

[2:23:11] know, the RD will be in budget pretty

[2:23:13] soon, so I think they need to know

[2:23:15] whether we're part of that this year or

[2:23:17] not. So, we advance that.

[2:23:21] Um [clears throat] facilities, uh

[2:23:24] council spent a bunch of work on on

[2:23:26] that. So, we're implementing that.

[2:23:29] uh dam safety. Uh we're doing works both

[2:23:33] uh for our uh water reservoir in the

[2:23:37] station. Uh so a bunch of work there and

[2:23:41] probably more um impactful is the

[2:23:47] uh [clears throat] the Bonnington Falls

[2:23:50] generating plant. we did down safe

[2:23:52] review and there's significant um

[2:23:56] potential cost to meet that those

[2:23:59] standards. Um

[2:24:02] but then Gisler and Blazy did similar

[2:24:04] work for CBT on their all the dams that

[2:24:09] uh CBT owns which are significantly

[2:24:12] larger than ours. uh and um you know

[2:24:15] definitely there's some strategies how

[2:24:17] you manage that risk without spending

[2:24:20] millions and millions of dollars to to

[2:24:22] do that. We also raised that with the

[2:24:25] minister and her staff when she was in

[2:24:27] town that you know this you know

[2:24:31] regulation has to meet the the risk not

[2:24:34] just

[2:24:36] everything and reduce every risk in the

[2:24:39] world. It's just not attainable.

[2:24:43] Um

[2:24:48] and uh Dan and his team is also looking

[2:24:51] at uh the generation renewal of um at

[2:24:56] Bonnington Falls that you know those

[2:24:58] assets are starting to get to end of

[2:25:01] life and how do we approach that and

[2:25:03] again millions of dollars if we um don't

[2:25:07] do it in the right way. So uh so he's

[2:25:10] talking to forest BC hydro and others

[2:25:13] about how best utilize the water in the river. So [clears throat] those

[2:25:18] are ongoing and you'll be seeing that or

[2:25:21] the next council will be seeing that in the new year of of potential options

[2:25:27] there. the five mile

[2:25:30] uh supply line or small water line from

[2:25:34] the intake up at um at the top of five

[2:25:38] mile down to the station reservoir and

[2:25:42] design there. Uh again, Dan's looked at

[2:25:45] that and and feels that there's an

[2:25:47] opportunity to generate some significant

[2:25:50] um generation off off that line if we

[2:25:53] design it in a way that create some uh

[2:25:56] you know some head on that and so

[2:26:01] the new uh we hired a new uh operations

[2:26:04] manager and so he's he's tasked to work

[2:26:07] with our

[2:26:09] uh utility world utilities folks to you

[2:26:11] know look at the design and see if we

[2:26:13] can build in some generation into that

[2:26:16] project.

[2:26:18] Uh what else do we have?

[2:26:23] Uh Ser College, the Pent Street campus,

[2:26:27] uh the new lease is with the province.

[2:26:29] Um we haven't heard, it hasn't been

[2:26:32] signed yet, but they committed to

[2:26:34] signing that for five years. So

[2:26:36] hopefully that will be in place. We've

[2:26:37] had some I know Sam has had some

[2:26:39] meetings with their staff and got their

[2:26:42] facility assessment report to really

[2:26:44] prioritize where that money would um be

[2:26:47] invested up there to uh renew that

[2:26:50] facility. Uh 606 Victoria Street, the

[2:26:53] old KSA uh we have signed the lease for

[2:26:56] that. They have provided insurance. They

[2:26:59] are um going to start programming um for

[2:27:04] this fall. uh the uh ceramics I think

[2:27:07] they have full contingent of 16 students

[2:27:11] and and so they have a full program for

[2:27:15] the year and I think the mayor shared

[2:27:17] medal is really looking more at for

[2:27:19] [clears throat] this year more at sort

[2:27:20] of weekend shorter courses to start uh

[2:27:24] so that's uh definitely in place

[2:27:28] procurement I think we shared last time

[2:27:30] that um we were not able to uh uh

[2:27:35] recruit a uh purchasing or procurement

[2:27:38] manager and we've gone to a third party

[2:27:40] provider and and I think they're early

[2:27:43] that's working well at this stage. Um

[2:27:47] this is also losing purchasing clerk

[2:27:50] there um by this December I think. So um

[2:27:55] we'll be looking at replacing that

[2:27:58] supports that.

[2:27:59] >> Yeah, that posting's gone out. You might

[2:28:01] have seen that

[2:28:03] [clears throat]

[2:28:03] >> union posting. So

[2:28:06] >> yes,

[2:28:06] >> did it go external?

[2:28:07] >> Yeah, it went internal and external.

[2:28:08] >> Okay.

[2:28:09] >> Yeah.

[2:28:10] And with uh again, I think we've

[2:28:13] shared that um Rob [clears throat]

[2:28:15] Nestrom, our long-term capital

[2:28:18] uh projects manager, is retiring and

[2:28:20] we've staffed up or we based her with a

[2:28:25] new project

[2:28:26] » [clears throat]

[2:28:26] >> um manager and and kind of restructured

[2:28:29] that department of how that how how we

[2:28:32] deliver projects. And do you want to

[2:28:34] comment on that?

[2:28:35] >> Yeah, you know, this is something that

[2:28:37] we work with council on. um you know

[2:28:40] started uh a year and a bit ago uh a

[2:28:42] year and a half ago two years ago where

[2:28:44] we looked at how we we had been

[2:28:47] delivering projects and how we wanted to

[2:28:48] especially given the the sort of size of

[2:28:50] our capital plan. So um bringing in an

[2:28:54] Simon she came from the city of

[2:28:55] Castlegar as their uh manager project

[2:28:58] delivery hired her as ours. She already

[2:29:00] lived in town, so uh she was happy to

[2:29:03] not commute and happy for uh the

[2:29:05] challenges that we have. And she's

[2:29:08] working with Shannon McKinnon as a

[2:29:09] project manager uh in their group

[2:29:12] starting out delivering all the

[2:29:13] projects, putting in that, you know, uh

[2:29:15] real solid framework, project management

[2:29:18] framework to just start, you know,

[2:29:20] making sure that we're, you know, with

[2:29:22] the amount of work that we have coming,

[2:29:23] we really need to make sure that we're

[2:29:24] tracking things appropriately so nothing

[2:29:26] gets lost. and you know if somebody

[2:29:28] happens to win the lottery and leave one

[2:29:30] day there's a you know real clear um

[2:29:32] trail someone else can just pick up the

[2:29:34] project and as well we see a lot of

[2:29:35] opportunities to share resources between

[2:29:38] like us and Nelson Hydro right so if we

[2:29:41] you know because project managers are

[2:29:42] kind of modular if we end up having you

[2:29:45] know um a few project managers five six

[2:29:47] years from now with all the projects and

[2:29:49] then we have slow project gets delayed

[2:29:52] that we didn't anticipate then our

[2:29:55] project manager might be able to go

[2:29:56] deliver something for Nelson Hydro and

[2:29:58] they were just short staffed at the time

[2:30:00] or something like that. So the idea

[2:30:02] being we'll all use this common project

[2:30:04] management framework that will be

[2:30:06] quarterbacked out of this project

[2:30:07] management office. So yeah, really

[2:30:09] looking forward to the opportunity. Uh

[2:30:13] really going to miss Rob and all his

[2:30:14] expertise and I'm sure we'll be buying

[2:30:16] him coffee from time to time to find out

[2:30:19] um you know what exactly went on uh

[2:30:22] during you know X Y or Z. But um yeah,

[2:30:26] looking forward to the opportunities

[2:30:27] come along with uh a fresh team there

[2:30:33] >> and [clears throat]

[2:30:34] certly a succession planner.

[2:30:37] I think Gab's going to give an update on

[2:30:39] all the changes and you know he

[2:30:41] presented earlier in the year of of the

[2:30:44] planning work we've done and or what we

[2:30:47] anticipate of retirements in the next

[2:30:49] two to five years and um I think at

[2:30:54] least 50% of that happened in two

[2:30:56] months. So

[2:30:58] believe um [clears throat] um that

[2:31:01] change that we anticipated

[2:31:04] um

[2:31:09] yeah I think that's the

[2:31:12] highlights of um yeah of some of those

[2:31:17] uh projects that we've been uh working

[2:31:20] on and and

[2:31:22] um yeah so if there's any sort of

[2:31:25] questions around any of those then happy

[2:31:27] to to take those.

[2:31:32] Yeah, I think the bottom line is

[2:31:34] significant change and some significant

[2:31:37] projects that we're we're advancing and

[2:31:39] uh you know I think really align with

[2:31:41] the strategic priorities that council

[2:31:43] set.

[2:31:48] » Okay, over to Mr. Johnson. You you get

[2:31:51] your own line coming up so I'm not going

[2:31:54] to you just so you Okay.

[2:31:55] >> Oh,

[2:31:56] >> and I I don't have much uh city manager

[2:31:58] covered off most there. I just wanted to

[2:32:00] say that um you know on the the grant

[2:32:03] front uh there was a lot of um you know

[2:32:06] press about the build Canada strong fund

[2:32:07] that came out and they had the direct

[2:32:09] impact stream and just to let council

[2:32:10] know that um we have applied uh for this

[2:32:14] building actually um we had to replace

[2:32:16] the cooling to towers for AC and um the

[2:32:19] first stream of Build Canada Strong fund

[2:32:22] was looking for those uh shovel ready

[2:32:24] projects and we felt perfectly in line.

[2:32:27] We're just finishing up the design for

[2:32:28] it. we had budgeted $1.2 million out of

[2:32:32] our facilities fund that we all worked

[2:32:33] together on to work the strategy out for

[2:32:35] and council gave us direction. Um and so

[2:32:38] yeah, it's possible that that you know

[2:32:40] we have applied and hopefully we'll get

[2:32:42] funding for that. But just wanted to

[2:32:44] share that um as mentioned during those

[2:32:46] facilities uh meetings around budget. We

[2:32:49] will always be looking for opportunities

[2:32:51] to capitalize on this and this one was a

[2:32:54] great opportunity. So hopefully we're

[2:32:55] successful. Um as well uh just a couple

[2:32:59] other follow-ups. Um Nelson Cycling Club

[2:33:02] had come in and asked for, you know,

[2:33:04] additional support. Just to follow up,

[2:33:06] we met with them up at um um Art Gibbons

[2:33:10] Park uh where they uh have a project and

[2:33:13] they've talked to CBT to get some

[2:33:14] funding to redo uh their jump park in

[2:33:17] there. And um we're able to offer a

[2:33:20] bunch of inind service with helping them

[2:33:22] get a a water supply up into the treated

[2:33:24] areas to be able to water it down uh as

[2:33:27] well as manage some of the drainage

[2:33:29] issues that really impacts them. So um

[2:33:32] had a really constructive meeting with

[2:33:33] them up there. They're really excited

[2:33:34] about the help that we can support with

[2:33:36] there. So just to let council know that

[2:33:38] you are uh supporting Nelson Club in

[2:33:40] that way as well as uh I believe through

[2:33:43] the RDCK they provide um some funding.

[2:33:47] And then finally, uh, on the cycling,

[2:33:49] uh, side of things, Knack Nelson area

[2:33:53] cycling.

[2:33:56] » Yeah. Uh, yeah. Um, Andrew Murray and

[2:34:02] >> they plugged in those connections and

[2:34:04] they were just, uh, looking to have the

[2:34:07] city follow up and support those. So

[2:34:10] just to provide followup that you know

[2:34:13] those are on city land so you know they

[2:34:15] are now ours. They're a good thing to

[2:34:17] have that connection to the rail trail

[2:34:19] and there was some concern about who

[2:34:20] will take insurance and Nelson Cycling

[2:34:22] Club was going to say we'll pay for the

[2:34:23] insurance this year but the city you

[2:34:25] should do it for after that and I mean

[2:34:27] it's [snorts] on our land so it's

[2:34:28] covered under our insurance anyways. So

[2:34:30] just you know was again supporting Nact

[2:34:33] and their initiatives and also you know

[2:34:35] didn't require the the outlay of funds

[2:34:37] from Nelson Cycling Club that they had

[2:34:39] thought it might. So just small ways

[2:34:41] that we are trying to help out based on

[2:34:43] you know requests that come in and

[2:34:45] requests uh that that we see. So

[2:34:48] >> yeah sorry I just a [clears throat]

[2:34:50] couple others when we're should have

[2:34:52] mentioned about the CBT. So we will be

[2:34:54] applying under that shore grant for the upgrades to the bathouses. Um

[2:35:00] we're looking at applying under another

[2:35:02] grant they're called it's called Gather.

[2:35:05] It's to create gathering spaces or

[2:35:07] improve gathering spaces in your

[2:35:09] downtown. So, we've been looking at um

[2:35:12] IOD Park in the Hall Street Plaza there.

[2:35:15] How do we um you know, now that we know

[2:35:18] how it's being used, how do we enhance

[2:35:21] it to um you know, be that downtown

[2:35:24] showcase for entertainment and and um

[2:35:28] people can gather and have their lunch

[2:35:30] and all those sorts of things. So, we're

[2:35:32] looking at that. And finally, we're

[2:35:34] looking at their I [clears throat] think

[2:35:36] it's it's um

[2:35:38] >> River Art or something.

[2:35:40] >> Yeah. So, we're looking at that mosaic

[2:35:43] on where the former bus station was to

[2:35:46] do that wall in a mosaic um art piece uh

[2:35:50] to celebrate the the the Columbia

[2:35:52] [clears throat] River and the basin. So,

[2:35:55] um so those are three exciting programs

[2:35:57] that we think we have three uh solid

[2:36:00] projects for. It's our question.

[2:36:04] >> My hands up. Yeah,

[2:36:06] >> thanks so much. Can you hear me? Okay.

[2:36:10] >> Yeah. As we look at those downtown

[2:36:12] spaces, one thing I think we threw

[2:36:13] around at the table, but I'm not sure if

[2:36:15] it ever landed and I was curious if it

[2:36:16] made its way to a landing place, it has

[2:36:19] to do with posters and like where is a

[2:36:21] good place for posters and can we

[2:36:23] actually have a a poster space that is

[2:36:26] the actual space for posters. Um, one

[2:36:29] thing we learn at the college is that

[2:36:30] the students actually read the posters

[2:36:31] and go to the things. And I think that can be true for other events in

[2:36:35] town. And I was curious if that if

[2:36:37] there's any opportunity with these um,

[2:36:39] improvements to find a space for that.

[2:36:42] >> Okay. No.

[2:36:43] >> Yeah, we do have that one um, poster

[2:36:46] >> um, she has in front of the restaurant

[2:36:48] and um, I think it's about trying to

[2:36:51] figure out managing it when it gets

[2:36:53] >> really full because you're right. I

[2:36:56] think people do have posters and they're

[2:36:57] putting them up and you just reminded me

[2:36:59] is that um thank you councelor Tate that

[2:37:02] today when I was out on um Baker Street

[2:37:06] I don't know did you notice this uh

[2:37:07] councelor Panero that the Eagles Hall so

[2:37:11] there was a project from Nelson Lake

[2:37:14] Tourism to try to sort of beautify with

[2:37:17] so many vacant buildings on Baker Street

[2:37:19] the windows and to keep them from

[2:37:21] becoming the poster hub um that The uh

[2:37:26] the [clears throat] Eagles building now

[2:37:27] has four um different uh lovely pictures

[2:37:32] of the countryside. One is Ainsworth,

[2:37:35] something is Nelson, there's one for

[2:37:37] Caslo, and they're there to sort of

[2:37:39] beautify the the windows,

[2:37:42] >> right?

[2:37:43] >> So that buildings don't look so,

[2:37:45] >> you know, empty or that people aren't

[2:37:47] using brown paper to cover the windows.

[2:37:51] >> Yeah. So, if you get a chance to take a

[2:37:53] look, that's the first I've noticed of

[2:37:55] them and they've been, you know, going

[2:37:57] out to the land owners to property

[2:38:00] owners to to see if they want to

[2:38:01] participate in that in that program. And

[2:38:04] >> yeah, and I think the they're

[2:38:05] [clears throat] looking at um doing some

[2:38:08] type of art on the Nelson uh old Nelson

[2:38:12] home furniture building.

[2:38:15] >> Yeah, I've got to I'll be chasing that

[2:38:17] down in September when I attend. And

[2:38:19] I've got some meetings that I have to

[2:38:20] attend that BCG I can have some

[2:38:23] discussion with

[2:38:24] >> because I asked for some mockup drawings

[2:38:26] to be able to take with me of what we

[2:38:28] could potentially put on those covered

[2:38:31] windows.

[2:38:33] >> Okay, I think that's it.

[2:38:40] » Okay. So, moving on then. Were you

[2:38:44] finished? Um,

[2:38:46] >> okay. [clears throat]

[2:38:46] >> Thank you. So, moving on. Number nine,

[2:38:49] Nelson Cypical Theater Society waiver of

[2:38:51] parking fees. So,

[2:38:55] um we've had a request to wave parking.

[2:38:58] The Nelson um Civic Theater Society is

[2:39:01] renovating the Civic Theater, as we all

[2:39:03] know, has requested exclusive use of 5

[2:39:05] meter parking stalls on Vera Street for

[2:39:07] its contractor. No on-site parking is

[2:39:10] available. staff approved the use and

[2:39:12] principal subject to the city's

[2:39:13] temporary license of occupation policy.

[2:39:16] The policy establishes an annual fee of

[2:39:19] $1,200 per meter stall equivalent to

[2:39:21] $100 per stall per month as the

[2:39:24] contractor will pass this cost on to the

[2:39:26] NCTS. NCTS is asking council to wave the

[2:39:30] $5,500 fee for the 11-month construction

[2:39:33] period.

[2:39:34] So there's quite an extensive report

[2:39:37] there council and there is um a

[2:39:41] recommendation so open to any

[2:39:43] discussion.

[2:39:45] >> Can I just add um I think you saw in the

[2:39:47] report that we estimate the loss of

[2:39:51] revenue to be more in that $25,000

[2:39:54] range. Um and the metered you know if

[2:39:58] you get the metered rate it's about

[2:40:00] 5,000. So, it's already quite subsidized

[2:40:03] for for projects like this.

[2:40:08] In fact, they

[2:40:10] >> [clears throat]

[2:40:10] >> um

[2:40:13] yeah,

[2:40:17] sorry, I kind of caught him out of the

[2:40:18] corner of my eye first, although I was

[2:40:19] looking at you. So, I'm going to go

[2:40:20] council Lockenberg, then I'm going to go

[2:40:22] councelor Panero, and then I'm going

[2:40:24] counselor Tate.

[2:40:25] So, so like you said, it's it's much

[2:40:29] more than 5,500

[2:40:31] um lost revenue. The is it normal for a

[2:40:35] project like that? like I could see how

[2:40:39] you would use maybe some of the parking

[2:40:41] for materials and stuff like that, but

[2:40:45] like I couldn't like have we had other

[2:40:48] experience with other projects where the

[2:40:49] contractors are kind of in part of the

[2:40:51] time and then out and kind of cycling

[2:40:53] through a little bit more like do they

[2:40:55] >> is it more convenience or it's pretty

[2:40:57] much they need it like no question.

[2:40:59] Yeah, I think you know efficiently

[2:41:01] getting things to sight and and you know

[2:41:05] we have I think the report does speak to

[2:41:08] we have given them some stalls behind

[2:41:10] the building

[2:41:11] >> 10 spots behind the

[2:41:13] >> and [clears throat] we waved the fees on those ones. Um but the access is

[2:41:18] through the front of the building. It's

[2:41:20] not through the back. So workers can

[2:41:21] park there that are working there for

[2:41:23] the day. But if you're you know running

[2:41:26] parts back and forth or whatever it's

[2:41:29] Yeah, you have to be be.

[2:41:31] >> Yeah. Okay. I guess that that's what I

[2:41:33] was trying to just get clear on. Is it

[2:41:34] more of a convenience thing for like if

[2:41:36] you're going to work there and you're

[2:41:37] bringing your tools in? For sure. But if

[2:41:38] it's constant through the day, then I

[2:41:41] can see it.

[2:41:41] >> Yeah. This we've got those stalls for

[2:41:44] people that are, you know, have to come

[2:41:46] and work there all day. Uh this is for

[2:41:48] those folks that would be coming and

[2:41:51] going. Um, and so materials, you're

[2:41:55] >> coming in the trade's coming in for a

[2:41:57] day or two and they got their tools in

[2:41:59] their van and they're running to and fro

[2:42:01] >> and they're parts are in their van that

[2:42:04] [clears throat]

[2:42:05] >> we experienced the same thing when we

[2:42:07] did the project there that we needed

[2:42:09] that closer access. Yeah, we had bulk

[2:42:11] parking out back and that

[2:42:13] >> Okay. Okay. Thanks.

[2:42:16] >> Um, I've got you on the list, Councelor

[2:42:19] Panero.

[2:42:20] >> Uh, just the wording here like this

[2:42:23] $49,280

[2:42:26] in expected

[2:42:30] that's not guaranteed by any means. It's

[2:42:32] just what we think might happen.

[2:42:35] >> Well, we use what we average on a meter

[2:42:39] >> in that area. So that doesn't mean the

[2:42:41] meter's plugged every second for, you

[2:42:44] know, a month straight. We recognize

[2:42:46] that they're not going to be always

[2:42:47] full. So that's an average.

[2:42:49] >> It's not its max potential. That's an

[2:42:51] average. I see.

[2:42:53] >> And then if they're asking just for this

[2:42:56] $5,500. So even if they paid the $5,500,

[2:43:01] we're still

[2:43:03] >> potentially losing revenue,

[2:43:04] >> potentially losing $44,000.

[2:43:07] >> And part of the impact is other

[2:43:10] businesses in that area. People choose

[2:43:12] if they can't find parking to go

[2:43:13] somewhere else, right? Unfortunately, we

[2:43:16] [cough] have these two [clears throat]

[2:43:17] large projects that are going on side by

[2:43:20] side, right? So, it's really putting

[2:43:21] pressure on that whole block or that

[2:43:24] whole section of Vernon Street there.

[2:43:26] [clears throat]

[2:43:27] >> Do we know when uh some of the parking

[2:43:29] on the other side of Vernon would open

[2:43:31] up?

[2:43:31] >> Another year,

[2:43:32] >> much longer here.

[2:43:34] >> So, fortunately, they're back doing work

[2:43:36] in that building. Um, and it's been

[2:43:38] refinanced. So, our expectation, they

[2:43:41] paid us all the money that they owed us.

[2:43:43] So our expectation is that they weren't

[2:43:46] going to you know they wouldn't have

[2:43:48] done that if they if they weren't

[2:43:50] proceeding with the project. So that's

[2:43:53] yeah Mike I don't know if you have any

[2:43:55] sense but yeah it's definitely a year

[2:43:57] long year longer to you know to

[2:44:01] get that building built.

[2:44:04] So yeah it's really unfortunate that and we had that same issue that you

[2:44:09] know when we did our project. So,

[2:44:11] there's been a lot of not a lot of

[2:44:13] parking available down there.

[2:44:16] >> And I I read this a couple days ago, but

[2:44:19] was there other parking in the back

[2:44:22] somewhere?

[2:44:22] >> Yeah, they get 10 spots in the curling

[2:44:24] club against the curling city.

[2:44:27] >> That's for your laborers that show up

[2:44:29] and, you know, start at 8 and finish at

[2:44:31] 4:30, right? And whereas you have the

[2:44:33] trades coming in and out and everything

[2:44:35] that

[2:44:36] >> you know if you have the you know HVAC

[2:44:39] people coming in or mechanical or the

[2:44:40] electrical and

[2:44:42] >> they run down to their van and you know

[2:44:44] they got all their tools and supplies on board right so

[2:44:50] >> is there any way of splitting the

[2:44:51] difference or like

[2:44:53] >> some as much as you council chooses you

[2:44:56] like giving them I don't know what makes sense is it like

[2:45:00] they had two stalls.

[2:45:02] instead of five.

[2:45:03] >> Yeah. I don't know if it's

[2:45:05] >> I think they would

[2:45:07] >> I think what we've heard from them, they

[2:45:09] need five stalls to make this.

[2:45:10] >> So, I don't think it's it's the number.

[2:45:14] They'll pay the 5,000 if they if that's

[2:45:16] the decision.

[2:45:18] >> Oh, I need a bit more lay down area,

[2:45:19] too. I could see them.

[2:45:21] >> Uh they seem to be happy with their

[2:45:23] layown area. They were really great to

[2:45:25] work with, right?

[2:45:26] >> Yeah. They don't have the

[2:45:27] >> they don't have the big steel components

[2:45:28] that we were dealing with and

[2:45:30] >> you know the scaffolding a lot of it's

[2:45:32] there. So

[2:45:34] >> yeah sort of you know different jobs

[2:45:36] they're doing but

[2:45:39] um

[2:45:40] yeah it's I would agree with city

[2:45:43] manager it's five spots that they need.

[2:45:45] five spots.

[2:45:46] >> Councelor Tate.

[2:45:51] >> Thanks. Yeah thanks. It takes me a

[2:45:53] second to find the right buttons. Um I

[2:45:56] I'm a little bit confused because I

[2:45:58] thought there's not a lot of parking

[2:45:59] straight in front of the like where you

[2:46:03] go into the Civic because of the bus and

[2:46:05] then the seniors parking. Can you just

[2:46:07] speak to like how many spots would be

[2:46:10] left for other humans to come and go on

[2:46:13] that block once you take away I think

[2:46:15] there's a bunch that are also reserved

[2:46:17] for seniors which maybe you could speak

[2:46:19] to that and just help me understand the

[2:46:20] lay of the land there please.

[2:46:23] >> Yeah. So the cross the street.

[2:46:24] >> Seniors

[2:46:26] when there's no construction have those

[2:46:29] stalls right in front of the senior

[2:46:31] center. Um so we have gymnastics

[2:46:34] >> while construction has happened. Uh

[2:46:37] we've given them an equivalent number of

[2:46:40] stalls across the street. Uh so there's

[2:46:42] five that are taken up there. Uh I think

[2:46:46] the ones that they would be looking at

[2:46:48] would be similar to the ones we had

[2:46:50] which would be to the

[2:46:53] >> [clears throat]

[2:46:54] >> uh east I guess of of the civic center.

[2:46:58] So um up the street the five that are closest to the I guess the entrance

[2:47:04] to the

[2:47:06] >> [clears throat]

[2:47:06] >> um

[2:47:07] >> gymnastics.

[2:47:08] >> Well the yeah gymnastics and

[2:47:11] >> yeah so that's [clears throat] I think

[2:47:14] those are the five that would be

[2:47:15] available for for their project.

[2:47:17] >> Okay can I can I say it back to you? So

[2:47:19] the spaces that are directly in front of

[2:47:21] the senior center that are normally for

[2:47:23] seniors, these are the ones that we're

[2:47:25] looking at setting aside for this

[2:47:27] construction or that has been requested

[2:47:29] to have the fees waved on. And um during

[2:47:32] this time, the reserve spaces have gone

[2:47:35] across the street and what and then the

[2:47:39] other five spaces to the east. Sorry, I got lost in the three-way swap there.

[2:47:44] Can you say it again?

[2:47:45] >> Can I try swing out sitting on her?

[2:47:47] Sure.

[2:47:47] >> Yeah, thanks. the the seniors because

[2:47:50] the senior spots were in front of

[2:47:52] gymnastics, the five reserved, right?

[2:47:54] Pre- any jobs, right? So, that's

[2:47:57] ultimately the place where construction

[2:47:59] would be going or construction vehicles

[2:48:01] would be going is in those nearest

[2:48:04] spots. Now, it's a bit weird because the

[2:48:07] seniors when they had those spots, they

[2:48:09] were never metered, right? They were

[2:48:11] just expanded down that curb. So,

[2:48:14] they'll be slotting in there. The

[2:48:16] seniors have now gone directly across

[2:48:18] the street from the seniors center on

[2:48:21] the co-op side where they have the five

[2:48:24] spots now. So, bit of a shell game

[2:48:27] there.

[2:48:29] >> Um, and that's what we did when we cuz

[2:48:32] of the bigger components in our job, we

[2:48:34] had to hoard out the whole sidewalk. Um,

[2:48:37] and so then the seniors needed access.

[2:48:39] So we put them across from the senior

[2:48:41] center and built that, you know,

[2:48:43] crosswalk across the road and the

[2:48:45] boulevard there. And so we've just gone

[2:48:48] back to that setting for this project.

[2:48:53] [clears throat] So the metered spots are

[2:48:55] taken up by the seniors and we're going

[2:48:58] to use theirs. So they would have to pay

[2:49:01] for the equivalent. Even though these

[2:49:02] spots aren't metered, they would be

[2:49:04] paying

[2:49:05] >> Yeah. their spots or the equivalent

[2:49:07] metered spots because

[2:49:08] >> so the seniors are paying that that fee

[2:49:12] >> to have those reserved.

[2:49:14] >> No, [clears throat]

[2:49:16] seniors used to have no fee spots their

[2:49:20] building.

[2:49:20] >> We've given them metered spots across

[2:49:22] the street. Uh so I think the

[2:49:25] construction folks would use the senior

[2:49:28] spaces and we're losing revenue on those

[2:49:31] five meters across the streets. So

[2:49:34] that's what we charge the contractor.

[2:49:37] >> So with the seniors reserved parking

[2:49:39] moved across the street, they not only

[2:49:41] is it the five spots, it's also no pay.

[2:49:44] So that no pay has been maintained in

[2:49:47] the transition across the street

[2:49:50] >> and we would recover that by charging

[2:49:52] the contractor for you know for those

[2:49:55] you know assume you know treating them

[2:49:57] as metered spots even those.

[2:50:00] >> Gotcha. Okay.

[2:50:01] >> As

[2:50:02] >> I'm with you. Thank you. It's kind of a

[2:50:04] shell game. You know, we're losing

[2:50:06] revenue from the seniors because they're

[2:50:07] not in their space. Uh so we charge the

[2:50:10] contractor for equivalent metered

[2:50:12] spaces.

[2:50:18] » Councelor Tate, do you have another

[2:50:21] followup?

[2:50:24] >> She's shaking her head now.

[2:50:25] >> No. Okay. Councelor Paige,

[2:50:28] >> maybe a couple questions. Um, when we

[2:50:31] were doing our project, did we pay

[2:50:33] ourselves or did we charge that out?

[2:50:37] Those five stalls that we used while we

[2:50:39] were doing the project oursel doing the

[2:50:41] roof.

[2:50:42] >> I don't know if we were eligible to

[2:50:44] charge it to the project because that

[2:50:46] was grant funded.

[2:50:48] >> Okay. I'm

[2:50:50] >> didn't charge the parking there

[2:50:52] >> because it's an improvement on our own

[2:50:54] building. I'm a bit sympathetic to to

[2:50:58] letting the fee part slide because we're

[2:51:00] getting the benefit of the improvement

[2:51:02] to the building as a broader piece and

[2:51:04] they still have a lot of fundraising

[2:51:06] left to do. Uh the other piece is are we

[2:51:10] able,

[2:51:11] you know, without

[2:51:13] stirring a pot with the seniors and

[2:51:15] recognizing the value of their parking

[2:51:17] able to add a criteria to that parking

[2:51:20] that it's also good for handicapped.

[2:51:24] We've had some disability concerns with

[2:51:26] those across. We have multiple medical

[2:51:28] clinics in that area and it it seems

[2:51:30] like they're exclusive use for seniors

[2:51:33] might not be

[2:51:36] we probably could add an accompanying

[2:51:38] criteria.

[2:51:39] >> Yeah, we are going to look at hours like

[2:51:42] there's [clears throat] no point if

[2:51:43] seniors aren't in the senior center for

[2:51:45] until 11:00 that you know nobody else

[2:51:48] can park in there. So, we're going to

[2:51:50] look at some of the hours to kind of

[2:51:52] maybe make that more workable

[2:51:55] recognizing the the existing, but we can

[2:51:58] certainly talk about

[2:51:59] >> seniors and handicap.

[2:52:00] >> Yeah.

[2:52:01] >> Um,

[2:52:01] >> and did we not Sorry, I just want to

[2:52:03] follow up on you asking it. Did we not

[2:52:05] make one of those parking spots a

[2:52:07] disabled spot? one of the I've did we

[2:52:11] not make a disabled spot on

[2:52:13] >> I don't believe the seniors

[2:52:15] >> side

[2:52:16] >> on the senior's locations

[2:52:17] >> on that side of the street we didn't put

[2:52:19] in a disabled parking spot

[2:52:20] >> there is around the medical associates

[2:52:23] clinic there

[2:52:23] >> yeah but not one on the co-op side

[2:52:26] >> okay thank you

[2:52:27] >> I think those two can piggy back um so

[2:52:30] that's just where I said I for $5,000 an

[2:52:32] improvement to one of our own buildings

[2:52:34] if we were doing the project we wouldn't

[2:52:35] necessarily be costing it out to a

[2:52:38] grandfather you're all for all those

[2:52:39] reasons I I'm okay with pushing the

[2:52:42] revenue if other people are

[2:52:49] want to make

[2:52:49] >> so you want to make a motion then

[2:52:51] >> I'll make that motion to approve the

[2:52:52] request

[2:52:55] >> I think that's one of the options

[2:52:56] >> yeah approve

[2:52:58] >> so then you change deny to approve

[2:53:03] [clears throat]

[2:53:07] » seconder

[2:53:08] And is there a second here?

[2:53:10] >> I can second. Um

[2:53:13] move

[2:53:13] >> by councelor Paige, seconded by

[2:53:15] councelor Lenberg.

[2:53:17] >> Um so just just to be clear here, what

[2:53:20] we're talking about is not the mechanics

[2:53:23] of parking or anything like that.

[2:53:24] Really, it's the issue is a subsidy for

[2:53:27] the NCTS. That's that's the issue. or do

[2:53:29] we want to subsidize them an additional

[2:53:32] 5,500 on top of the effective subsidy of

[2:53:36] $44,000.

[2:53:40] Um

[2:53:42] and um I'm assuming like I it's not

[2:53:46] included in the package that I saw where

[2:53:48] what the status of their um fundraising

[2:53:52] is right now, but I'm assuming that

[2:53:58] this is pretty significant for them. Did they do they know about it? Some of these things might catch you by

[2:54:05] surprise. you build a fundraising plan

[2:54:07] and then you're like, "Ah, we didn't

[2:54:10] think about the fact that we need this

[2:54:12] parking and have to pay and that can

[2:54:14] really throw a throw them a bit for a

[2:54:18] loop." Is that the case? Do we know

[2:54:20] that?

[2:54:20] >> I don't know what you know how if this

[2:54:23] was picked up in the general conditions

[2:54:25] of the contractor when they uh set their

[2:54:28] budget, but yeah, they still have a

[2:54:30] fairly significant shortfall. I know

[2:54:32] they're been asked to um submit on uh

[2:54:37] one of the Build Canada uh programs. So,

[2:54:39] I know they're doing that and that could

[2:54:42] be

[2:54:43] >> uh make a big change, but again, we have

[2:54:45] a line of credit with them that we're

[2:54:47] hoping that they can

[2:54:49] >> repay uh fairly quickly. So, um yeah,

[2:54:53] they get that large grant, then

[2:54:55] hopefully they that allows them to repay

[2:54:58] that that line of credit.

[2:55:00] >> Yeah. Yeah. as far Yeah. As far as the

[2:55:03] like a project process, right? You work

[2:55:06] with your, you know, your team as you go

[2:55:09] into the construction process and

[2:55:12] >> in theory, these things are understood.

[2:55:14] All your costs are understood and

[2:55:15] they're accounted for in your your

[2:55:17] project costing.

[2:55:18] >> Yeah.

[2:55:19] >> To city manager's point, you know, under

[2:55:21] this exact line item that was in there

[2:55:23] or not, not sure. But yeah, it would be

[2:55:26] an expectation.

[2:55:26] >> It would be an expectation that it would

[2:55:27] >> that it would be that you would address

[2:55:29] that. So that's where I'm a little

[2:55:30] uncomfortable with the motion on the

[2:55:33] table because I don't like this like

[2:55:37] trying to, you know, grab every

[2:55:39] opportunity for us to squeeze in another

[2:55:42] fundraising. Well, having said that, I

[2:55:44] am really sympathetic to the fact that

[2:55:46] they've got a dis difficult task of

[2:55:48] fundraising and and that they're, you

[2:55:51] know, there's some paid staff, there's a

[2:55:52] lot of volunteers that are working on

[2:55:54] this and that some of these things might

[2:55:55] catch them by surprise. Doesn't sound

[2:55:57] like this is would have likely caught

[2:56:00] them by surprise.

[2:56:01] >> Say that this was something they weren't

[2:56:04] anticipating.

[2:56:05] >> Yeah, this is in in my mind this would

[2:56:08] only be really justified if it caught

[2:56:11] them by surprise. If it was just like,

[2:56:14] hey, here's another opportunity to make

[2:56:16] another request. This is probably not

[2:56:18] the appropriate way to do that. I would

[2:56:20] prefer to be evaluating it as an

[2:56:24] additional subsidy like your or

[2:56:26] additional grant that the city's

[2:56:27] providing. That's how I would prefer to

[2:56:29] receive this. Um the fact that we're I I

[2:56:34] didn't the other thing that's not

[2:56:35] totally clear, but I think you clarified

[2:56:37] in your remarks was the 49,280 which is

[2:56:42] the the averaged amount we would have

[2:56:44] made revenue on those meters over those

[2:56:47] 11 months. But anybody could have

[2:56:50] purchased these same spots for $5,500.

[2:56:54] >> Wow. If you have a construction project.

[2:56:56] >> If you have a construction project.

[2:56:57] >> Yeah.

[2:56:58] >> So, in that sense, we aren't

[2:56:59] subsidizing. I just want to be clear in

[2:57:01] my own mind. This is we're not already

[2:57:03] subsidizing them because we would have

[2:57:04] done this for a private entity as well.

[2:57:07] So,

[2:57:08] >> you know, that's where I'm kind of

[2:57:09] wrestling with with this. Like,

[2:57:12] you know, this is legit. the the 5500 in

[2:57:15] my mind is not that relatively not that

[2:57:19] much, but to us it is something

[2:57:21] [clears throat] we want to nickel and

[2:57:23] dime as much as we can to protect the

[2:57:24] taxpayer. But this is a tough job that

[2:57:29] they're doing to to raise this money.

[2:57:31] And I think god if if you keep getting

[2:57:35] hit by these kind of surprises, it can

[2:57:37] really slow your momentum to to raise

[2:57:39] the cash. So that's where I was

[2:57:41] sympathetic to the motion

[2:57:44] and having heard what um

[2:57:47] uh Johnson Chris what's your title

[2:57:50] general manager Johnson [laughter]

[2:57:52] whatever

[2:57:54] >> general manager community

[2:57:56] etc [clears throat] etc. We don't we

[2:57:57] don't have we don't have a meeting

[2:57:58] that's long enough for you to talk about

[2:57:59] what it's titled Chris

[2:58:01] >> H. Yeah. I'm going to

[2:58:04] Yeah. I mean it's only 500. So I'm going

[2:58:06] to say I'm leaning towards a yes because

[2:58:10] I sympathize with what they're trying to

[2:58:11] do.

[2:58:13] >> Okay. So we've got a motion that's been

[2:58:14] moved and seconded. Is there any further

[2:58:15] discussion? Does anybody else have

[2:58:17] anything that they want to say or add or

[2:58:21] council Panero? I just sort of I

[2:58:24] appreciated the point that was made by

[2:58:27] counselor Paige and that we were getting

[2:58:30] eventually we were getting a building

[2:58:33] that functions and that is worth a lot

[2:58:36] more than 5,500 bucks. Um and also

[2:58:40] recognizing that this process has been

[2:58:43] extremely long and painful for I think

[2:58:47] everybody involved on both ends of the

[2:58:49] spectrum. So getting it if this I don't

[2:58:53] know how much of a difference this makes

[2:58:54] to them or to us or to anybody but if it helps get this over the line

[2:59:00] faster which then helps them you know

[2:59:03] start paying off their debts and

[2:59:06] functioning as as what it's supposed to

[2:59:08] be as an asset in the community. It

[2:59:12] seems like not that big a deal to me.

[2:59:14] I'm sympathetic towards it as well.

[2:59:20] I have a quick question. Thanks. Um,

[2:59:23] yeah, thanks for the comments. I am

[2:59:25] curious what other

[2:59:28] semi-standard city fees that should be

[2:59:32] embedded in the overall project

[2:59:34] construction cost could come up as a

[2:59:37] letter of, oh, could you wave this,

[2:59:39] please? I'm thinking just off the top of

[2:59:41] my head like a hydro connection or those

[2:59:43] sorts of things like what other um I'm

[2:59:46] just curious about setting a precedent

[2:59:48] and whether we have any kind of um

[2:59:51] benchmarks for saying yes or no besides

[2:59:53] that we empathize with the fact that

[2:59:55] it's a big project and that in the end

[2:59:57] the city gets the benefit of a working

[2:59:59] building. U which are really great

[3:00:01] points but I was curious what else we

[3:00:03] could potentially have as an another

[3:00:06] ask.

[3:00:08] Well, there's obviously [clears throat]

[3:00:10] um you know the building permit fee um

[3:00:13] hydro connections. Uh I don't I don't

[3:00:16] think they have any hydro upgrades. I

[3:00:19] think that I think they're we had three

[3:00:21] phase in that building already. I don't

[3:00:24] think there's any utility fees that

[3:00:26] probably building permit fee which I

[3:00:28] think they've already paid.

[3:00:32] » What was that last one?

[3:00:34] >> Building permit fee.

[3:00:35] >> Building permit fees. I heard

[3:00:37] >> something else.

[3:00:38] So, we don't anticipate any further

[3:00:40] ones?

[3:00:41] >> No, like I said, there's service is is

[3:00:45] fine. Um, yeah, I don't I don't think

[3:00:48] there's any there's no new connections

[3:00:50] or anything. It's they're just

[3:00:51] renovating existing space.

[3:00:57] » Thank you.

[3:00:58] >> Okay. So, the only thing I would just

[3:01:01] like to add is that I would ask that um

[3:01:04] city staff do have a serious

[3:01:05] conversation with um seniors um

[3:01:09] >> group about their requirement to have um

[3:01:13] five spots. maybe they'd like to

[3:01:15] >> sure

[3:01:16] >> go down to for as to be supporting of

[3:01:19] this project that's um going on

[3:01:23] and um whether or not we can look at

[3:01:27] time to make sure because I drive by

[3:01:30] those spots fairly frequently. I drive

[3:01:34] downtown that's I have a little route

[3:01:36] takes me down Vic Ferin Street when I

[3:01:39] come to town and they're often empty.

[3:01:42] So, if I've got the 9:00 a.m. doctor's

[3:01:46] appointment at the medical clinic and

[3:01:47] everything's full, because we we we know

[3:01:50] because we've seen online submissions

[3:01:52] about people concerned about parking

[3:01:54] that do have businesses down there and

[3:01:55] such that that if you're not there at 9,

[3:01:58] then somebody could be like, I mean, a

[3:02:00] doctor's appointment these days is what,

[3:02:02] four and a half minutes. Um,

[3:02:05] and uh, you know, you're not you're not

[3:02:07] there for for two or three hours. So, um

[3:02:10] I think that if we can look at some some

[3:02:13] work there

[3:02:13] >> flexibility.

[3:02:15] >> Yeah. Anyways, this has been moved and

[3:02:17] seconded. Um all those in favor

[3:02:23] and that Thank you, Kate. Got that.

[3:02:25] Thank you everybody. So, that carries.

[3:02:28] Thank you everybody.

[3:02:30] Okay, moving on to

[3:02:34] um bylaws.

[3:02:36] Oil 11A is the step code in zero carbon.

[3:02:39] I'd just like to just note that

[3:02:42] councelor Payne has returned to the um

[3:02:45] meeting at 7:47. Um staff are proposing

[3:02:48] amendments to the city of Nelson

[3:02:50] building bylaw number 3456

[3:02:53] 2019 to adopt higher performance

[3:02:55] requirements for part 9 buildings,

[3:02:57] generally lowrise residential and small

[3:02:59] buildings under the BC energy step code

[3:03:01] and the BC zero carbon step code.

[3:03:03] Following council's direction at second

[3:03:05] reading, the proposed memo was revised

[3:03:07] to require zero carbon EL4 to be

[3:03:10] effective December 31st, 2026, replacing

[3:03:13] the previous proposed phased

[3:03:14] implementation as well as moving to step

[3:03:17] four for part 9 buildings. Council

[3:03:19] provided third reading at the July 21st

[3:03:21] special meeting and is now being asked

[3:03:23] to adopt building bylaw amendment energy

[3:03:25] step code step 4 plus zerocarbon EL4

[3:03:30] bylaw number 3654

[3:03:32] 2026 effective December 31st 2026. So

[3:03:37] council there's quite a bit of

[3:03:38] information again in your package here

[3:03:39] tonight and we have discussed this um at

[3:03:43] two previous minutes. This has been part

[3:03:46] of our Nelson next um advocate advocacy

[3:03:49] and part of our strategic plan. Um is

[3:03:52] there a mover moved by C

[3:03:56] [laughter]

[3:03:57] >> and second by councelor Tate?

[3:03:59] >> Um is there any need for further

[3:04:02] discussion councilors?

[3:04:04] >> Mayor maybe I'll just take this

[3:04:06] opportunity. I'm not sure that all of

[3:04:07] councils have the opportunity to meet

[3:04:09] Mike Cohen, one of our building

[3:04:10] officials as it might been around. Okay,

[3:04:13] my apologies. Thanks, Chris.

[3:04:15] >> Yeah, just making sure.

[3:04:17] >> Yeah. Okay. I missed that meeting. Yeah.

[3:04:19] Fair.

[3:04:20] >> Oh,

[3:04:21] >> that's why.

[3:04:21] >> Yeah, he was the original.

[3:04:24] >> Yeah, the original.

[3:04:25] >> Yeah.

[3:04:26] >> Anyways, thank you for being here today.

[3:04:28] >> Um, so seeing no further questions or

[3:04:33] comments. Um, and it's been moved and

[3:04:37] seconded that council pass the following

[3:04:39] resolutions. that the corporation city

[3:04:41] of Nelson bylaw building amendment

[3:04:43] energy step code step 4 and zerocarbon

[3:04:45] EL4 bylaw number 36542026

[3:04:49] be finally adopted. All those in favor

[3:04:53] and thank you councelor Tate and opposed

[3:04:57] and that carries.

[3:04:59] Okay, moving on to 11B

[3:05:04] the cemetery

[3:05:06] >> cemetery management bylaw and fees. So,

[3:05:09] the proposed Nelson Cemetery Management

[3:05:10] bylaw modernization modernizes the

[3:05:13] city's regulatory framework to reflect

[3:05:14] current operating practices, legislative

[3:05:16] requirements, and long-term financial

[3:05:18] sustainability. The bylaw supports

[3:05:21] improved administration of cemetery

[3:05:22] services while updating the fee

[3:05:24] structure to better align with current

[3:05:26] operating costs and council's decision

[3:05:28] to increase cost recovery for cemetery

[3:05:30] operations. Council is being asked to

[3:05:32] adopt the proposed Nelson Cemetery

[3:05:34] Management bylaw and the accompanying

[3:05:36] amendment to the fees and charges bylaw

[3:05:38] to implement the updated regulatory and

[3:05:41] fee framework. So, councelor, just to

[3:05:44] remind you, we had um an independent

[3:05:46] contractor [snorts] come and give us

[3:05:48] some thoughts about our cemetery moving

[3:05:50] forward. and we've had a number of

[3:05:53] follow-up meetings regarding changes to

[3:05:57] how we operate the cemetery as well as

[3:05:59] the need for improvements on our cost

[3:06:02] recovery.

[3:06:04] So, we have two recommendations there

[3:06:06] that I think we need to pass separately.

[3:06:11] Yes. Thank you. Um, [clears throat] so

[3:06:14] does anybody want to move the first

[3:06:16] recommendation? Councelor Lochenberg,

[3:06:18] seconded by Councelor Tate. Council

[3:06:20] Octberg,

[3:06:22] >> you'd like me to read it?

[3:06:23] >> Yeah, please.

[3:06:24] >> Okay.

[3:06:26] Um, that the Nelson Cemetery Management

[3:06:29] bylaw number 3668 2026 be finally

[3:06:32] adopted.

[3:06:33] >> Councilor, is there any further

[3:06:34] discussion on this issue?

[3:06:39] » See, I Oh, I just have a question, but

[3:06:41] it can go after the vote or before the

[3:06:43] vote. It's probably more appropriate

[3:06:44] before the vote.

[3:06:46] >> For the vote.

[3:06:47] >> You may not sway the vote. I was just

[3:06:49] curious because I'm in Suriri at a

[3:06:51] funeral today at a very large um

[3:06:53] cemetery um and I noticed that the um

[3:06:56] cemetery grounds were adhering to the

[3:06:58] water restrictions and the grass was

[3:07:00] very very yellow and I was just curious

[3:07:02] um do we do um how does the watering

[3:07:06] with respect to restrictions go at our

[3:07:07] cemetery and and how do those things

[3:07:09] align?

[3:07:11] >> Yeah, we operate off a well there so

[3:07:13] it's not part of the distribution

[3:07:15] system.

[3:07:18] Yeah. So, it stays a little bit greener

[3:07:22] because we're not using potable water.

[3:07:26] Anyways, so

[3:07:28] >> thank you.

[3:07:28] >> No further questions or

[3:07:32] concerns. All those in favor of the

[3:07:34] motion.

[3:07:36] One, two, I need three hands. Four

[3:07:38] hands. Okay, that carries. Anybody

[3:07:41] opposed?

[3:07:43] You know, just on that point,

[3:07:44] [clears throat] maybe we should look at

[3:07:46] how we tell that story because we've

[3:07:48] taken a lot of opportunity to make sure

[3:07:51] we're not using potable water and, you

[3:07:55] know, watering playing fields, watering,

[3:07:57] you know, the cemetery and some other

[3:07:59] spaces. And the general public probably

[3:08:02] doesn't realize that. They go up to the

[3:08:04] cemetery and

[3:08:05] >> ask that same question. Why is the city

[3:08:07] using a bunch of water [clears throat]

[3:08:08] and telling me not to water my lawn?

[3:08:11] We've, you know, strategically made sure

[3:08:14] that it wasn't affecting our water

[3:08:16] >> system

[3:08:17] >> and something that we've discussed with

[3:08:19] communications to make sure is out there

[3:08:21] just because that certainly has come

[3:08:22] before, but it's a great opportunity to

[3:08:24] say it here loud loudly and

[3:08:27] >> like a little like a little thought

[3:08:28] bubble. Did you know?

[3:08:30] >> Well, you know, one of those story

[3:08:31] boards might we add those up there,

[3:08:34] right? And do we not take the water from

[3:08:37] the well for the flower watering?

[3:08:42] >> We have a stand pipe. I'm not sure if

[3:08:44] we're using that the way we did in the

[3:08:46] past. Maybe we can check that. And we

[3:08:49] >> for flower watering.

[3:08:50] >> We had a stand pipe down coming off the

[3:08:53] lake that we could

[3:08:55] >> Yeah, it comes from somewhere else to

[3:08:57] water the plants.

[3:08:58] >> We actually could fill up our truck to

[3:09:00] water.

[3:09:02] >> Yeah. Yeah. I wonder if they still are

[3:09:03] or I

[3:09:05] >> Yeah, depends on their circuit and

[3:09:08] probably what makes

[3:09:09] >> Yeah.

[3:09:10] >> most little sense cuz I think there's

[3:09:11] one down at the public works yard, too.

[3:09:17] » So, okay. So, that's been that one's

[3:09:21] been moved, seconded, and passed. And

[3:09:24] then moving on to the fees and charges.

[3:09:28] Is there somebody that wants to move it?

[3:09:30] Councelor Tate. Secondary councelor

[3:09:32] Loctenberg. Councelor Tate, give it a

[3:09:35] read.

[3:09:35] >> Yeah, I'm ready. I'm I'm doing all the

[3:09:37] buttons here. Uh that the Nelson fees

[3:09:40] and charges amendment cemetery fees

[3:09:42] bylaw number 3669 be finally adopted.

[3:09:46] >> So, last opportunity, council, any

[3:09:49] questions or concerns regarding that?

[3:09:52] Seeing nobody putting their hand up. All

[3:09:54] those in favor

[3:09:58] and opposed. And that carries. Thank you

[3:10:00] very much.

[3:10:03] Moving on to we get to finally hear from

[3:10:07] Chris Jury, our CFO. So, the chief

[3:10:10] financial officer is going to provide a

[3:10:12] quarter 2 financial update to council.

[3:10:18] >> Yeah. So, um I don't have a presentation

[3:10:20] per se, but I'll go through the document

[3:10:22] you have in front of you that's um eight

[3:10:25] pages, but the, you know, the first page

[3:10:27] is just that first RFD page. Um what a

[3:10:31] couple things that we included this time

[3:10:33] that we hadn't before um is a one-page

[3:10:38] um Q2 update from Nelson Hydro. So,

[3:10:40] that's kind of at the back end of that.

[3:10:42] uh one of the

[3:10:44] uh positives, one of the many positives

[3:10:46] that's come out of bringing in an IT

[3:10:48] manager and I think uh we pointed out

[3:10:51] Mike that was at the back of the room

[3:10:52] and I see Adam Tero's here as well. He's

[3:10:55] our new manager of IT and he'll be

[3:10:57] presenting later in the evening, but you

[3:10:59] can recognize him at the back of the

[3:11:01] room there. Um, one of the uh, positives

[3:11:04] of bringing him in is to focus on the IT

[3:11:06] side of things which allowed um, our

[3:11:10] part-time Nelson Hydro, part-time IT

[3:11:12] manager to focus more on hydro. So, one

[3:11:16] of the things he's providing to us now

[3:11:17] is a bit more of a focused update from

[3:11:20] Nelson Hydro. So you see that each

[3:11:22] quarter from this point forward that he

[3:11:25] can bring that in and he's doing a lot

[3:11:26] of work with Nelson Hydro doing more

[3:11:29] frequent uh forecasting with them and

[3:11:32] really trying to dial in their budgeting

[3:11:34] process. So I think um that's all great

[3:11:36] that he's able to allocate a bit more

[3:11:37] time to that. So this is one of the the

[3:11:39] things you'll see from him. Um, so

[3:11:42] starting kind of on that first page

[3:11:44] there, um, where it says Q2 financial

[3:11:48] update 2026,

[3:11:50] overall position at June 30th, the city

[3:11:52] remains in a strong financial position.

[3:11:55] Revenues are at 64% of annual budget and

[3:11:58] expenses at 48%.

[3:12:00] Um, I just sort of caveat that a little

[3:12:03] bit on both the revenue and expense

[3:12:05] side. you know, we have a lot of revenue

[3:12:07] sources that are very front-loaded that

[3:12:08] will get our taxes and water and sewer

[3:12:10] fees all at the beginning of the year.

[3:12:12] So, we expect that to be on the the

[3:12:13] higher end. Um, and flip side on the

[3:12:16] expenses, you know, we do have

[3:12:18] collective agreements that will bring in

[3:12:20] a wage increase at that midway point in

[3:12:22] the year. So, we would expect to be

[3:12:24] under 50% um, you know, for the most

[3:12:27] part for our expenses. Um, but you know,

[3:12:31] there's other expenses that are heavier

[3:12:33] in the front part of the year and some

[3:12:34] in the later half. So, it's more of on

[3:12:36] the expense side, it's just more of a a

[3:12:38] guideline, a check-in, but sort of

[3:12:40] comparing to where we were this time

[3:12:41] last year is a good uh gauge.

[3:12:46] So, if we uh flip over to the revenue

[3:12:48] side, I'll just kind of focus in that's

[3:12:50] on the third page on a few of the the

[3:12:52] revenue variances and um highlights. uh

[3:12:56] overall revenue as I mentioned is at

[3:12:58] that 64% point. Um you know some of

[3:13:02] those areas that are trending higher

[3:13:04] than 50% sale of services is at 54%. It

[3:13:08] was at 51 last year this time. Um same

[3:13:12] as other revenue at 62% versus 56% this

[3:13:16] time last year. Some of the big drivers

[3:13:19] in there um I see parking coin is up

[3:13:21] about $100,000 from this time last year.

[3:13:24] And some of that could be related to

[3:13:26] timing of when we um you know pull the

[3:13:29] coins out of the meters, when we send

[3:13:30] them down to get counted and come back,

[3:13:32] but not to the tune of 100,000. So, it's

[3:13:35] definitely on the positive side of

[3:13:36] things. Uh 21% of our parking revenue is

[3:13:39] coming from pay by phone. I thought that

[3:13:41] would be an interesting metric. We just

[3:13:44] started um this year really dialing in

[3:13:46] how we're recording that. So, I don't

[3:13:48] have a comparison for you from last

[3:13:50] year, but we will now going forward. So,

[3:13:52] we can kind of look at that 21% and see

[3:13:55] how that's um I would expect growing

[3:13:57] over time.

[3:13:59] Um police have some uh grants and

[3:14:03] special project revenues that have come

[3:14:05] in um for some of the things they're

[3:14:06] working on with the province. Some of

[3:14:08] special investigations.

[3:14:10] Um so that's brought in some revenue

[3:14:12] that's helped offset some of their

[3:14:14] overtime costs and additional labor

[3:14:16] costs. So we'll kind of see that when we

[3:14:19] look at the expense side of things.

[3:14:21] Building permits are up uh 200,000 from

[3:14:24] this time last year. Um and some of our

[3:14:27] internal charges as well. If you recall,

[3:14:30] we increased uh the rental fees that we

[3:14:32] collect down at public works for transit

[3:14:35] and Nelson Hydro to account for the new

[3:14:39] office space that we created there. So

[3:14:40] that's bringing in some additional

[3:14:42] internal revenue, though they are funded

[3:14:44] by other sources, hydro and BC transit.

[3:14:49] Um yeah, other than that, tax revenues

[3:14:51] where we expect it to be. Water and

[3:14:53] sewer fees are at 101% of budget uh due

[3:14:57] to growth. Oh jeez. Just got to remember

[3:15:01] to go to the council meeting tonight.

[3:15:03] [laughter]

[3:15:04] >> You're late.

[3:15:08] » Stay awake. [laughter]

[3:15:10] >> This is where you goes

[3:15:13] in my pocket every 10 minutes. Um and uh

[3:15:18] Nelson Hydro sales are at 49% near the

[3:15:21] midpoint uh slightly below 51% that we'd

[3:15:25] seen in prior years. Um and again we can

[3:15:28] sort of look at that one page report

[3:15:30] from uh Nelson Hydro, but that's you

[3:15:33] know almost entirely just due to

[3:15:35] weather. You have milder

[3:15:37] >> uh winter milder spring then then you're

[3:15:39] going to see decreases in revenues but

[3:15:42] correspondingly we also have a decrease

[3:15:43] in power purchase costs. So those go

[3:15:46] hand in hand.

[3:15:48] Um, flipping over to the expense side of

[3:15:51] things, um, total expenses as I

[3:15:55] mentioned at 48%

[3:15:57] uh, versus 47% at Q2 2025. So very close

[3:16:02] to how they were last year. Uh,

[3:16:04] protective services is at 48%. This is

[3:16:08] below 50% but um, is higher than last

[3:16:11] year's pace which was at 45%.

[3:16:14] So, primarily looking at, you know,

[3:16:16] police wages are higher than they were

[3:16:18] at this time last year. I did mention,

[3:16:20] you know, they do have some special

[3:16:21] project funding they've used to um they

[3:16:24] did have some additional overtime and uh

[3:16:27] they do have some grant funding that's

[3:16:29] um funding one of their positions um

[3:16:32] this year. So, uh you know, there's some

[3:16:35] corresponding revenue and expense side

[3:16:36] of things there. Um but that's one area

[3:16:40] of of focus that I think we'll uh we'll

[3:16:42] be watching. I do have a budget meeting

[3:16:44] set up for them tomorrow. So, we'll go

[3:16:46] through a few of those things and and

[3:16:48] start looking at 2027.

[3:16:50] [snorts] Uh transportation services is

[3:16:52] at 46%.

[3:16:55] Uh you know, that's above the 42% we

[3:16:57] were at last year. Uh again, if you

[3:17:00] recall, we reduced the snow removal

[3:17:02] budget this year by $90,000 and shifted

[3:17:05] that into parks and into our utilities.

[3:17:08] So, it's expected that you'd see that

[3:17:10] trending on the higher side.

[3:17:13] Um, sewer operations is one that is

[3:17:16] probably the clearest operating pressure

[3:17:18] that we're seeing and will have a bit of

[3:17:20] an impact on how we budget for 2027.

[3:17:24] Um, this is largely just due to

[3:17:27] additional repairs, maintenance, and um

[3:17:30] unforeseen [clears throat] um spending

[3:17:33] down at the sewage treatment plant. So,

[3:17:37] um, you know, as we're, you know,

[3:17:40] building out our plan, we see equipment

[3:17:42] failures that are happening earlier than

[3:17:45] we would have expected. Um, so we're

[3:17:47] having to replace some of the equipment

[3:17:48] and parts and things down there to to

[3:17:50] kind of keep things going. Um, I think

[3:17:53] it's important to note that, um, you

[3:17:57] know, the current sewage treatment plant

[3:17:59] is expected to last another 6 to 8

[3:18:01] years. But I think um what I'm seeing is

[3:18:05] that the staff are really doing a good

[3:18:06] job of taking that kind of practical

[3:18:08] life cycle approach to repairing. So

[3:18:11] they're looking at used parts and

[3:18:13] refurbished parts and just making sure

[3:18:14] that we're not investing in something

[3:18:17] that's going to have a much longer life

[3:18:18] than the actual plant itself. So really

[3:18:20] taking a pragmatic approach to it all.

[3:18:23] Um but yes, still there's there's

[3:18:25] failures and things that happen. So, um,

[3:18:27] that's kind of where we're at. Um,

[3:18:30] as far as just keeping that going while

[3:18:32] we replace [snorts] it.

[3:18:34] Uh, water operations is favorable at 46%

[3:18:38] compared to last year. That was a

[3:18:40] challenge for us. We were at 54% last

[3:18:42] year. The crews focused a lot more on

[3:18:44] capital works this year as opposed to

[3:18:46] operating repairs and maintenance. Um,

[3:18:48] you know, doing the Josephine um project

[3:18:51] at the beginning of the year. So, um,

[3:18:53] we're seeing less pressure on the

[3:18:55] operating side.

[3:18:57] And, uh, mentioned Nelson Hydro a little

[3:19:00] bit as well. Um, they're slightly above the midpoint, but they're below

[3:19:05] the 54% we saw last year. And that's

[3:19:07] again the corresponding decrease in

[3:19:09] power purchase costs. uh but they do

[3:19:12] have additional pressures in some of the

[3:19:14] other operating and maintenance

[3:19:15] expenditures but in overall uh trending

[3:19:18] to come in under budget for operations

[3:19:21] maintenance and power purchases.

[3:19:26] That's it for the revenue and expense.

[3:19:29] Um and I know that during the city

[3:19:32] >> library you're not even

[3:19:33] >> Yeah. Well, I haven't got there yet. I

[3:19:35] was going to kind of go Yeah.

[3:19:36] >> Last line of capital piece here. Um, so

[3:19:40] the city manager did a good job in the

[3:19:42] verbal update of touching on quite a few

[3:19:44] of the projects um on the go. We've

[3:19:47] listed most of them here, sort of those

[3:19:49] major projects, where they're at in the

[3:19:52] timeline as far as you know, had we just

[3:19:54] started, are we on budget, are we

[3:19:57] substantially complete? A couple of the

[3:19:59] areas to um that you know staff and

[3:20:03] myself are are keeping an eye on are the

[3:20:06] city hall office elevator sort of

[3:20:09] cooling tower projects. Um cooling tower

[3:20:13] hasn't started yet. Just in the design

[3:20:15] phase of that but as far as the elevator

[3:20:18] I think one of them is completed.

[3:20:21] Budgetwise we're looking a little over

[3:20:23] budget on that project. Um I think last

[3:20:26] check was about trending forecasting

[3:20:29] about 60,000 over budget which would be

[3:20:31] 6% [clears throat] of the total elevator

[3:20:33] project budget mainly due to additional

[3:20:36] fire alarm and electrical requirements

[3:20:38] that um came in higher than expected. Uh

[3:20:41] so we're looking for cost savings in

[3:20:43] other areas of the facilities plan to

[3:20:44] try and keep us all on side there. Um,

[3:20:48] the IT hardware.

[3:20:49] >> Sorry.

[3:20:50] >> What do people think of our new new

[3:20:53] color elevators?

[3:20:56] >> I gotta be honest, it took me a while to

[3:20:58] I felt something's different here.

[3:20:59] [laughter]

[3:21:01] >> Inside the elevator.

[3:21:02] >> Oh, no. At the end of the hallways,

[3:21:04] either end of the hall is painted green

[3:21:05] now.

[3:21:06] >> Let you know that you're at the city of

[3:21:07] Nelson, I guess. Yeah.

[3:21:08] >> Well, yeah,

[3:21:09] >> there was.

[3:21:10] >> Nobody's noticed that. [laughter]

[3:21:12] >> I noticed

[3:21:13] >> patchy portions from the old signs that

[3:21:15] had been ripped out. They're pretty

[3:21:17] >> rough shots. So,

[3:21:19] >> yeah. And and [snorts] the new elevators

[3:21:22] look pretty pretty sharp. They're all,

[3:21:25] >> you know, the just even the the facing

[3:21:27] on the the wall is so

[3:21:29] >> much more modern and new.

[3:21:32] >> Take a look.

[3:21:33] >> Yeah.

[3:21:34] >> I don't know if I want to mention it,

[3:21:36] but I feel like I walked through the

[3:21:37] door and the elevator opened and I was

[3:21:39] like, "Is this

[3:21:40] >> Yeah, [laughter]

[3:21:40] >> that open cuz I came through the door.

[3:21:42] It's your birthday."

[3:21:43] >> Yeah.

[3:21:44] >> Set that up for you. That's fine. That's

[3:21:46] fine. That makes sense.

[3:21:50] » Um, yep. So, that's the city hall

[3:21:52] projects. Uh, on the IT front, hardware

[3:21:55] replacements. Uh, we did have that core

[3:21:58] infrastructure replacement at the

[3:21:59] beginning of the year that we um sent

[3:22:01] notification to all of council about uh

[3:22:04] wanting to put in an order quickly

[3:22:06] before prices escalated. Um, we don't

[3:22:09] have any more major purchases lined up

[3:22:12] for the rest of the year. So, uh, most

[3:22:15] of that happened at in the first

[3:22:17] quarter. Um,

[3:22:19] wastewater treatment plant, I mentioned

[3:22:21] some of the operating and capital, um,

[3:22:23] pressures that they're feeling there.

[3:22:25] That will likely feed into the 2027

[3:22:28] budget and how we kind of look at, um,

[3:22:32] forecasting and, uh, planning that out

[3:22:35] for what that looks like over the next

[3:22:36] few years.

[3:22:38] Uh, NG 911, we mentioned an October 28th

[3:22:41] go live date. Uh that's a 100% grant-f

[3:22:44] funed project and that one's coming in

[3:22:46] well under budget so that's positive.

[3:22:49] Um there's some other major projects

[3:22:51] there too. Yeah.

[3:22:52] >> So when you have a grant to do the work

[3:22:54] and it comes in under budget, do you get

[3:22:55] to keep the money?

[3:22:56] >> You do not. [clears throat]

[3:22:59] >> That'd be a good deal.

[3:23:00] >> I [laughter] was going to say

[3:23:01] >> Yeah. It' be nice if they instead.

[3:23:03] >> Is there something else that we could

[3:23:04] Yeah,

[3:23:04] >> we do encourage you to [laughter]

[3:23:06] >> There must be [clears throat] some other

[3:23:07] part of that project we could

[3:23:08] >> No, they're actually pretty good. like

[3:23:10] they're as you know on the civic project

[3:23:12] um both

[3:23:13] >> I remember that that's what I asked

[3:23:15] >> but NG 911 I think they've been [snorts]

[3:23:19] you know really good in terms of the

[3:23:20] scope of what they've covered so um if

[3:23:24] we're under budget we're quite happy to

[3:23:26] send you

[3:23:27] >> okay

[3:23:28] >> you're happy I'm happy

[3:23:30] >> yeah um so they upfront funded 50% of

[3:23:33] the grant and we've worked through that

[3:23:36] and now we're working into you know a

[3:23:39] point where we'll have additional

[3:23:41] expenditures and then we'll ask for that

[3:23:42] to get funded. So, we won't be returning

[3:23:45] any money, but we just might not be

[3:23:47] entitled to the full the full amount of

[3:23:49] grant funds.

[3:23:51] >> Trying to We're trying to help the

[3:23:52] province out where we can. [snorts]

[3:23:54] [clears throat]

[3:23:56] >> Uh yeah, so there's other projects on

[3:23:57] here listed mainly for facilities,

[3:23:59] transportation, equipment, um purchases.

[3:24:02] you know, we've got a retiring um fleet

[3:24:06] manager who's been very active in making

[3:24:07] sure that we've got all our procurements

[3:24:09] done before he leaves. So, had quite a

[3:24:11] few of those over the last couple

[3:24:12] months. Uh water and sewer projects are

[3:24:14] in budget. And um yeah, I guess just as

[3:24:18] sort of closing for overall for the city

[3:24:20] portion of this, you know, at the

[3:24:22] halfway point, um operating results are

[3:24:25] generally consistent with expectations.

[3:24:28] um you know there's always going to be

[3:24:29] timing differences as far as revenue and

[3:24:31] expenditures but uh we're continuing to

[3:24:34] monitor sort of those um areas I

[3:24:37] highlighted the sewer maintenance uh

[3:24:40] protective services hydro sales again

[3:24:42] there's we can monitor but there's not a

[3:24:44] lot of control we have over that um and

[3:24:47] then some of these capital projects that

[3:24:49] are you know trending a little on the

[3:24:52] higher side we'll we'll try and look for

[3:24:53] savings in other areas of the capital

[3:24:55] budget to offset Yeah,

[3:24:59] >> I'm just curious how we can be on budget

[3:25:02] with sewer main upgrades when we have

[3:25:04] the, you know, CP rail surprise.

[3:25:07] >> Well, we did add some additional

[3:25:11] we added that extra amount that we

[3:25:13] talked about.

[3:25:14] >> We were able to add that on budget.

[3:25:16] >> Finalized the budget and the Josephine

[3:25:18] project came in on budget. So, we did

[3:25:20] quite well on that piece.

[3:25:22] >> Thank you.

[3:25:24] >> Um, so Yep. So then there's the hydro uh

[3:25:27] report as well. I think I've sort of

[3:25:29] touched on a few of those pieces. So I

[3:25:33] didn't have um much uh to kind of add to

[3:25:38] that. Uh like I say, it's revenue and

[3:25:40] power purchases, some of the plant

[3:25:42] maintenance um expenditures as well.

[3:25:46] again, Nathan Russ, the our finance

[3:25:49] manager, who's spending time with Nelson

[3:25:51] Hydro, along with Dan Gesler, the um

[3:25:54] general manager there, um doing a really

[3:25:56] good job of working together and trying

[3:25:58] to um really dial in the budgeting

[3:26:01] process and and do a great job of

[3:26:04] forecasting future years so that they

[3:26:06] can that'll inform uh future budgets.

[3:26:09] So, it's good to have that additional

[3:26:10] resource.

[3:26:12] And yeah, as um as you mentioned there

[3:26:15] um Council Payne, we uh reached out to

[3:26:19] the library as well to see if they could

[3:26:20] provide a midyear report. Um they do one

[3:26:25] quarterly, I think, for the library

[3:26:26] board. So you may see that I don't know

[3:26:30] how the flow works if you actually see

[3:26:32] that in your council package as well,

[3:26:33] but um I thought this was a nice um kind

[3:26:36] of halfyear check-in with the library to

[3:26:39] see where they're at with things. And

[3:26:41] I'll continue to have them provide this

[3:26:43] each year. They'll provide a end of year

[3:26:45] of course when they come and present

[3:26:46] their budget, but having that midyear I

[3:26:48] think is kind of nice way to stay in

[3:26:50] connection with how things are going

[3:26:52] there. Um yeah,

[3:26:55] >> councelor P.

[3:26:56] >> Can I I just want to go back to um

[3:26:58] Nelson Hydro with major storms. Yes.

[3:27:00] >> So what you're saying is currently um

[3:27:03] they're over budget in that area

[3:27:06] >> due to several major storms that we had.

[3:27:08] But the [clears throat]

[3:27:09] you talk about the rural storm budget

[3:27:11] being over is the urban storm budget in

[3:27:15] the same position or has it mainly been

[3:27:18] the rural that's been

[3:27:20] >> yeah they're the most impacted. We don't you know have nearly the impact

[3:27:24] here for urban.

[3:27:25] >> We don't budget for really yeah big

[3:27:28] major storms in the urban area

[3:27:31] >> primarily the rural and to be clear

[3:27:33] they're not currently over budget but

[3:27:35] the trend is it's looking over budget.

[3:27:37] Um but that would assume we have the

[3:27:40] same storms we had in the first half of

[3:27:42] the year and the second half of the year

[3:27:44] which may not happen. So we may end the

[3:27:46] year with not being overbudget. One of

[3:27:49] the things about storm is that it is a

[3:27:52] recoverable expenditure. So if you go

[3:27:55] over your uncontrollable expenses such

[3:27:58] as storm, you can recover that through

[3:28:00] future rates. So that's one of the

[3:28:02] things that BCU allows us to um you

[3:28:05] because it's such a challenge to

[3:28:06] forecast that and there's nothing you

[3:28:08] can really do. So that's one of those

[3:28:10] areas where if you do go over budget,

[3:28:12] it's recoverable in you know in a

[3:28:14] deferral account in future years. So in

[3:28:17] the city when we have those storm events

[3:28:19] and there's branches everywhere is that

[3:28:21] that's dealt with by public works then

[3:28:23] okay that makes more sense. Thank you.

[3:28:27] >> Yeah. Yeah. Anything unless it affects

[3:28:30] the electric utility then it's all

[3:28:32] public works. All that flooding um work

[3:28:34] we've had to do in these storms is

[3:28:37] really on the public works side of it.

[3:28:41] [clears throat]

[3:28:46] Yeah, that's all I have.

[3:28:48] >> Any questions for

[3:28:50] >> Yeah, I'm happy to

[3:28:50] >> CFO.

[3:28:56] Seeing none, if I could have somebody

[3:28:57] move receipt of um his report for

[3:29:00] information. And [clears throat] as you

[3:29:02] saw tonight, uh Chris presented and

[3:29:06] Amy's off on her maternity leave and uh

[3:29:10] don't think she's had a baby yet, but uh

[3:29:12] she's expecting soon. I believe the end

[3:29:14] of August was her due date.

[3:29:16] >> Yep, I think so.

[3:29:18] >> So that was moved. I just want to get it

[3:29:20] moved. So that was by council Panero.

[3:29:21] Seconder is that council lock. All those

[3:29:25] in favor of receiving the report. Thank

[3:29:27] you. And that carries.

[3:29:29] >> Sorry. Yeah, just um yeah, just

[3:29:32] recognition recognizing um you know the

[3:29:37] pretty soon happy event with Amy and we

[3:29:40] certainly miss her here and and Chris

[3:29:42] has had to uh you know fill the shoes of

[3:29:46] a bunch of his senior managers there and

[3:29:50] he's backfilled for most of those

[3:29:52] positions and as I said earlier

[3:29:55] procurement we've gone third party on

[3:29:56] that and so that's something new so Um

[3:30:00] yeah um of course in the finance

[3:30:02] department there's pretty stretched

[3:30:04] right now so um

[3:30:07] may not attend as many uh um other

[3:30:10] meetings as as he has in the past just

[3:30:13] so he can focus on you know rebuilding

[3:30:16] that team of his down there.

[3:30:22] » Okay. So moving on to item 12B.

[3:30:27] Uh, pickle ball.

[3:30:29] >> Freedom City.

[3:30:31] >> Wait, Freedom City. Sorry, I got ahead

[3:30:33] of myself. Put a tick beside it before I

[3:30:35] did it. Um,

[3:30:36] >> you're awarding that to pickle ball.

[3:30:38] >> Yeah. [laughter]

[3:30:40] >> Anyhow, the city of

[3:30:43] >> the city the the city's freedom of the

[3:30:45] city policy has not been updated since

[3:30:47] 2000 and no longer reflects the current

[3:30:49] legislative framework. The attached

[3:30:51] amended policy aligns eligibility,

[3:30:53] voting requirements, and statutory

[3:30:54] effects with section 158 of the

[3:30:57] community charter and staff

[3:30:58] recommendation is that council adopts

[3:31:01] the amended policy. And so I'm just

[3:31:03] going to add to this because this was

[3:31:05] something that basically I brought up

[3:31:07] and it's been on my [clears throat] sort

[3:31:09] of plan as we look at things like the

[3:31:13] sports ambassador and the cultural

[3:31:14] ambassador and the fact that we've now

[3:31:16] um added another cultural um award and

[3:31:19] we have the heritage award and this is

[3:31:21] something that hasn't been given out for

[3:31:22] a number of years. Um, somebody the last

[3:31:26] time I thought it was given out was to

[3:31:28] Sean Lamb in like 2008, but somebody

[3:31:30] told me that we gave it to the Kilties

[3:31:32] in uh

[3:31:33] >> Y

[3:31:33] >> in 2014,

[3:31:36] I think.

[3:31:37] >> That's not on the list, is it?

[3:31:38] >> 2018. 2019.

[3:31:40] >> Oh, it is

[3:31:41] >> 2018

[3:31:43] first year.

[3:31:44] >> Yeah. Anyways, so it's like so they've

[3:31:46] been few and far between sort of in the

[3:31:48] last little bit and then it was always a

[3:31:49] question about whether or not we wanted

[3:31:51] to do this or if we wanted to do

[3:31:53] anything with it. This is before us

[3:31:55] tonight um to at least update the policy

[3:32:00] >> and that that council can have at any

[3:32:03] time a future discussion about whether

[3:32:04] or not they um see this as an award that

[3:32:07] they want to um give out. The other

[3:32:10] thing is is that we could say no, we

[3:32:12] don't want to update this policy and

[3:32:14] perhaps you know one of the options

[3:32:15] obviously is just to remove this policy

[3:32:17] from our our books so to speak going

[3:32:22] forward. The recommendation is um to

[3:32:25] adopt the amended freedom of the city

[3:32:27] policy

[3:32:29] um make bringing it at least in line

[3:32:31] with the um requirements of the

[3:32:34] community charter.

[3:32:37] So, it's been moved by councelor Paige

[3:32:40] and it's been seconded by councelor

[3:32:42] Lockenberg.

[3:32:45] It's like, okay, is he scratching his

[3:32:46] head or is he? And councelor Payne has a

[3:32:49] question. Councelor Payne has a

[3:32:51] question. When when I read this, um, I

[3:32:54] got a very colonial feeling about the

[3:32:58] history of it. So I I love the concept

[3:33:01] of

[3:33:03] um you know having an award for

[3:33:06] exceptional contribution to the city and

[3:33:09] what's behind it. I did look a couple of

[3:33:11] other communities, but I

[3:33:14] um as you say, updating it now to just

[3:33:18] bring it in line with current

[3:33:20] legislation

[3:33:22] may be worthwhile, but at some point in

[3:33:25] time, I think we need to look at it with

[3:33:27] a more

[3:33:28] um decolonializing

[3:33:31] perspective so that

[3:33:34] it's that it goes through a a broader

[3:33:39] um assess ment with different groups in

[3:33:42] the community to make sure that it meets

[3:33:44] the needs of a wider array.

[3:33:50] I'm talking about um diversity, equity,

[3:33:52] inclusion and the indigenous

[3:33:54] perspective.

[3:33:58] So that's my suggestion.

[3:34:02] So um

[3:34:05] it's been moved and seconded. Um, we can

[3:34:08] defeat that motion and refer or

[3:34:12] we can pass it and flag that

[3:34:17] it probably needs to have

[3:34:20] more revision and more update.

[3:34:25] And Council Panero, it's going to go to

[3:34:28] you for discussion.

[3:34:30] >> Sure.

[3:34:30] >> I guess I don't know. I feel like we

[3:34:34] have so many options as far as like

[3:34:36] giving

[3:34:38] people recognition in the community. We

[3:34:40] have awards and different things that

[3:34:43] sort of hit

[3:34:46] different aspects of our community that

[3:34:48] um we have several and this in its

[3:34:53] former iteration anyway is very

[3:34:57] specific

[3:34:58] uh and not

[3:35:02] if it's all the same, like we can adopt

[3:35:05] the new version or whatever, but I don't

[3:35:09] really see the point in it to be honest.

[3:35:11] Like, we don't give it out. We haven't

[3:35:13] given it out in a very long time. And

[3:35:15] it's hard to imagine giving it out again

[3:35:18] when we have, you know, a cultural

[3:35:20] ambassador award, we have a sports

[3:35:22] ambassador award, and we have all these

[3:35:24] other ways of giving recognition to

[3:35:26] people that stand out in the community.

[3:35:28] So it seems a little bit redundant to

[3:35:31] me. So if that if there's staff time

[3:35:33] involved in fixing it, I think you just

[3:35:36] my goal would be just to scrap it.

[3:35:39] >> Okay, I see counselor Tate with her hand

[3:35:42] up.

[3:35:43] >> Hi, thanks so much. Um, yeah, I wanted

[3:35:45] to just bounce off counselor Payne

[3:35:47] because when I read the new version, I

[3:35:49] actually thought that it leaned into um

[3:35:52] a broader ideal um and it's

[3:35:56] um and to speak to councelor Pierro

[3:35:59] where those other um ambassadorship

[3:36:02] awards are and I think we discussed this

[3:36:04] in the past, you know, they're focused

[3:36:05] on a particular aspect of a person's

[3:36:07] achievement

[3:36:09] um and usually early in their careers

[3:36:12] whether it's sports or cultural or

[3:36:14] otherwise or while they're still

[3:36:15] working. What I liked about this is that

[3:36:18] it gave an option for um like a lasting

[3:36:22] community impact and I think I was just

[3:36:25] going to control F. I think the impact

[3:36:27] word is even in there and and I liked

[3:36:30] that um kind of bigger ideal. Um

[3:36:35] and it also in the policy says that it

[3:36:37] doesn't need to be every year and it

[3:36:38] should be used sparingly. And so I think

[3:36:40] it gives that opportunity for a really

[3:36:42] like

[3:36:43] special person who has done something

[3:36:46] special for the community that is unique

[3:36:48] and outside of maybe that those specific

[3:36:51] genres. Um and so I I actually thought

[3:36:53] it did lean into a big a bigger view of

[3:36:56] how to positively impact a community. I

[3:36:59] was happy with the shift in language.

[3:37:02] >> Councelor Paige. Yeah, I'm sensitive to

[3:37:06] how we are inclusive in our awards and

[3:37:10] our activities. I think given the

[3:37:13] medieval history of of this particular

[3:37:16] award, which used to be a ceremony that

[3:37:20] you would hold where people who were

[3:37:23] part of a feudal system, if you lived in

[3:37:26] a city for a year and a day, there was a

[3:37:28] ceremony. You were declared to have

[3:37:30] freedom of the city and that freed you

[3:37:31] from your surfom.

[3:37:33] uh and that slowly became less and less

[3:37:36] of tradition as the concept of of

[3:37:37] people's freedom became more enshrined

[3:37:41] in just the legal framework of where we

[3:37:43] live today and this is a vestage of that still lives on and is reserved for

[3:37:48] an honor. So I wouldn't necessarily look

[3:37:51] to transform this award um because it

[3:37:55] has that history and and kind of keeping

[3:37:57] it there is is is a hearkening back to

[3:38:00] some of the principles that brought us

[3:38:01] here which is in itself colonialism but

[3:38:04] I'm also sensitive to how we create you

[3:38:06] know new recognitions that are

[3:38:08] modernized but this has like a story in

[3:38:11] ancient history and if anything I would

[3:38:14] be curious where the register is kept

[3:38:17] and do we maybe want to put a a little

[3:38:19] bit more um you know dressing and

[3:38:22] decoration around some of those more

[3:38:24] formal pieces because it used to be you

[3:38:26] were on a roll and that role is probably

[3:38:28] more of a voter role and a resident role

[3:38:30] nowadays but it was it was what a city

[3:38:32] would adopt you and say you were allowed

[3:38:34] to to trade and work and live in that

[3:38:37] city and there was no lord somewhere

[3:38:39] that said you had to be on a field out

[3:38:41] there.

[3:38:43] It's [snorts] really interesting

[3:38:44] history.

[3:38:46] counc

[3:38:50] [clears throat]

[3:38:50] >> the other thing I want to bring forward

[3:38:52] is how over the course of this it looks

[3:38:54] like three women out of the entirety

[3:38:57] have um achieved this award so that's

[3:38:59] why I think not only

[3:39:01] >> um that colonial aspect but the you know

[3:39:04] equity inclusion part is something and I don't know how we achieve that I know

[3:39:09] there's some historical

[3:39:11] um trying to think of the word that

[3:39:17] maybe just was the way it was back in

[3:39:20] 1947. I wasn't alive then, but I think

[3:39:23] it it it may it merits I think it merits

[3:39:27] more work. And I I'm sort of thinking

[3:39:29] now that maybe this isn't the award.

[3:39:32] Maybe there is a different award. And I

[3:39:35] don't know what's out there, but I'm

[3:39:36] sure we know lots of people who could

[3:39:38] help us find out.

[3:39:40] >> Well, and I guess at the end of the day,

[3:39:42] we don't have to give out awards. I mean

[3:39:43] there's like we can take I'm just

[3:39:46] thinking about what councelor Panero was

[3:39:48] just saying that um you know it's just

[3:39:51] that this has um been on the has been on

[3:39:55] the books um and I discussed this at a

[3:39:58] previous time when I had a meeting with

[3:40:00] the um culture development officer in

[3:40:04] regards to the new um presentation that

[3:40:07] we have for um for a person within arts

[3:40:11] and culture who has a you know a

[3:40:14] substantive portfolio of work that

[3:40:16] they've achieved in a in a lifetime that

[3:40:18] will be recognition that will be um

[3:40:20] given out not necessarily every year but

[3:40:24] to um [clears throat] look at that

[3:40:26] outstanding contri contributions.

[3:40:29] So, this is another award that

[3:40:31] potentially um is not just in one silo,

[3:40:36] but could be given to somebody that's

[3:40:39] done a lot of contributions, but we

[3:40:41] don't have to have it. Option, one of

[3:40:43] the options there is to actually take it

[3:40:45] right off the right off the books.

[3:40:50] Councelor Payne.

[3:40:52] >> So if we take it right off the books and

[3:40:56] then find something else, we can somehow

[3:40:59] where the next council can propose that

[3:41:03] as one of the possible action items to

[3:41:05] be looked at as we go forward because I agree with you the way this has been

[3:41:11] changed so that it's not specifically

[3:41:14] volunteer. There are a number of

[3:41:16] segments of our community that don't

[3:41:19] have anything in particular like you

[3:41:22] know business really business not for

[3:41:24] profofits social services many of those

[3:41:28] have had

[3:41:30] city changing events and contributors

[3:41:34] >> pardon me

[3:41:35] >> healthcare that's what I mean so there

[3:41:37] there's lots of areas where exceptional

[3:41:40] service has been provided to the city

[3:41:43] that has definitely definitely changed

[3:41:45] the needle and made it a better place to

[3:41:47] be.

[3:41:48] >> Yeah. And when I look at this, I mean

[3:41:49] there's a lot of men here, but I mean

[3:41:50] some of these like talk about

[3:41:51] healthcare, I mean Dr. Morrison got this

[3:41:53] award. I mean we've had sports um Ernie

[3:41:56] Gar won because of his contribution to

[3:41:58] sports. Joan Riker um got her award

[3:42:01] because of her contribution to the

[3:42:02] social service sector. Like in terms of

[3:42:05] these people's names that are on here, a

[3:42:07] lot of them come from a lot of sectors

[3:42:08] that you've just um listed. counselor

[3:42:11] >> paying Sean Lamb obviously arts and arts

[3:42:14] and culture. I would see like you know

[3:42:16] Sean Lamb got this award. I would see

[3:42:18] Shaun Lamb [clears throat]

[3:42:20] >> would have probably been a candidate for

[3:42:21] the new um CDC award, the new the new

[3:42:25] cultural award. So anyways, we've got a

[3:42:28] motion on the table to adopt the amended

[3:42:30] freedom of the city policy. Um do we

[3:42:33] want to take a vote and people can vote

[3:42:36] that however they want and then we can

[3:42:38] try another motion or

[3:42:39] >> vote.

[3:42:41] >> Yeah. So calling the question on the uh

[3:42:45] resolution as it appears. All those in

[3:42:48] favor

[3:42:50] and opposed and that carries. So there

[3:42:54] we go. So that carries and we can leave

[3:42:59] it to the next.

[3:43:01] Um, just that you've all heard my

[3:43:03] thoughts before and that was the fact

[3:43:05] that I thought that perhaps this would

[3:43:06] be something that a council because of

[3:43:08] the fact that you would don't want to

[3:43:09] give this out every year because you're

[3:43:11] looking for special

[3:43:14] people and we're looking for all of

[3:43:16] those things in regards to equity and

[3:43:20] gender diversity and everything else

[3:43:22] that that a council would like a council

[3:43:25] might pick one in a term. So that maybe

[3:43:28] you would look at this award being given

[3:43:29] out every four years. I think we're a

[3:43:31] little bit late in our term here, but I

[3:43:36] think that that would be something that

[3:43:37] we'd want to bring it back so that we

[3:43:38] didn't amend this and then now all of a

[3:43:39] sudden we dropped it off the plate again

[3:43:42] and then it come, you know, 10 years

[3:43:44] from now somebody goes, "Oh, do we need

[3:43:45] to adopt that or adjust it?"

[3:43:49] How's the page?

[3:43:50] >> Do we do we have a physical plaque

[3:43:53] somewhere of these? And I've just missed

[3:43:54] it

[3:43:56] like the registry. I know it's probably

[3:43:57] a book somewhere, but like looking at

[3:44:00] that list, it feels like it's

[3:44:02] >> I don't I don't think we have a formal

[3:44:03] registry. This is the other thing is I

[3:44:05] don't think there's anything

[3:44:07] formal that we've kept that I found in a

[3:44:09] record trying to look in the

[3:44:12] >> in the city

[3:44:13] >> installation somewhere or something at

[3:44:15] the archive.

[3:44:17] >> [clears throat]

[3:44:17] >> I think that probably is the kind of

[3:44:18] thing to go in is to say where where do

[3:44:21] we put this this particular

[3:44:25] award where do we keep track of it?

[3:44:27] Where do we honor that we've given?

[3:44:29] Yeah, the mayor suggested, you know, um

[3:44:33] you know, maybe like even our all of

[3:44:35] former

[3:44:36] >> mayors and counselors, you know, maybe

[3:44:38] doing a, you know, a kiosk that, you

[3:44:41] know, lists all the all those people

[3:44:43] that are sports ambassadors,

[3:44:46] >> uh, culture ambassadors, freedom of the

[3:44:48] city. So, um, you know, there's a, you

[3:44:51] know, if you're interested in that,

[3:44:52] there's a place certainly we can put it

[3:44:55] on a web page and stuff, but maybe when

[3:44:57] you come into city hall, if you're

[3:44:58] interested in knowing who the mayor was

[3:45:00] in 1907, that you can just go to the

[3:45:05] kiosk and find out some of the, you

[3:45:07] know, those important people recognized

[3:45:09] in our community over the years. And it

[3:45:12] could be little posters on the other

[3:45:13] side of the years that they were chosen.

[3:45:15] >> Yeah. But even just tomorrow night, the

[3:45:17] wall we have, I was talking to him about

[3:45:18] the fact that we would get that on some

[3:45:19] kind of like touchcreen or whatever and

[3:45:21] you could look cuz as much as I mean the

[3:45:23] they're getting old and tired out there.

[3:45:25] are a lot of people that come

[3:45:26] down. I see them all the time. It's like

[3:45:29] you know my grandfather was a city

[3:45:31] counselor and they want to go and find

[3:45:33] the picture way down the hall. So I mean

[3:45:36] people do stop and look when the when

[3:45:38] the children come in to visit city

[3:45:41] council. They're like, "Look at look at

[3:45:44] all those old people mustaches."

[3:45:47] [laughter]

[3:45:48] >> So, it they they do seem, but I mean, we

[3:45:50] could we could modernize how we present

[3:45:52] all of that stuff. So, there's lots of

[3:45:53] options on how we can do it when we get

[3:45:55] there.

[3:45:57] Um, so now we're moving on to pickle

[3:45:59] balls and they're not getting the

[3:46:00] freedom of the city.

[3:46:02] >> They're not. [laughter]

[3:46:03] Darn.

[3:46:04] >> I think they're going to be really

[3:46:05] upset.

[3:46:06] >> I'm going to be getting there is going

[3:46:08] to there is going to be emails tomorrow

[3:46:10] to the mayor. Um,

[3:46:12] >> golden pickle.

[3:46:13] >> Yes. [laughter]

[3:46:15] >> So, 12 C. Local pickle ball players have

[3:46:18] asked council to consider improved pickle ball facilities at

[3:46:21] Lakeside Park, including permanent

[3:46:23] courts over the longer term. Staff

[3:46:25] recommend purchasing two temporary net

[3:46:27] systems for the two tennis courts

[3:46:29] already marked for pickle ball.

[3:46:31] >> This approach addresses current demand

[3:46:33] while preserving existing tennis and

[3:46:34] basketball use and maintaining the

[3:46:36] flexibility of the court area.

[3:46:39] So, we all heard them come. Councelor

[3:46:42] Lockenberg, are you moving?

[3:46:43] >> I'll move the option number two

[3:46:45] actually.

[3:46:47] And but um because I also want to ask

[3:46:51] questions about it. I'm not sure if it's

[3:46:52] the best approach, but it's something if

[3:46:56] it is the best approach, that's the one

[3:46:57] I

[3:46:59] >> Okay,

[3:46:59] >> which is

[3:47:00] >> is there somebody that wants to second?

[3:47:02] So option two just for everybody is that

[3:47:05] remove the tennis net adjacent to the

[3:47:07] basketball area and install two

[3:47:10] permanent pickle ball courts and nets.

[3:47:14] Is there a seconder for that? And maybe

[3:47:16] if there's no secondary, you might just

[3:47:17] get to ask your question and

[3:47:18] >> Yeah, that's fine. Maybe it was better

[3:47:20] to ask it beforehand, but

[3:47:22] >> Okay, I'm not seeing a seconder. So I

[3:47:23] think you're going to I'm going to give

[3:47:25] you the

[3:47:26] >> Okay. So my question is it the taking up

[3:47:29] and putting down of nets is potentially

[3:47:32] an unnecessary hassle if the because my

[3:47:37] read from the communities I keep getting

[3:47:39] surprised at how many pickle ball

[3:47:40] players there are. the tennis has

[3:47:43] already quite a bit of options and it

[3:47:46] sounded like from what I heard that

[3:47:47] there's more

[3:47:49] demand for pickle ball at that spot than

[3:47:52] there is even for tennis. Is that is

[3:47:55] that the case?

[3:47:56] >> Uh I wouldn't say that we've found that

[3:47:59] um

[3:48:00] >> answer you

[3:48:01] >> or is it I mean in part [laughter]

[3:48:03] >> the thing you'd have to do to read

[3:48:05] demand is I mean if there's not the

[3:48:07] option then the demand's not going to be

[3:48:08] there but if it was would

[3:48:09] [clears throat] the demand be there? my

[3:48:11] read had been that it probably would be

[3:48:13] like if it's there.

[3:48:15] >> Yeah, there's I think that's been like

[3:48:17] we hear that. Yeah. Yeah. To your point,

[3:48:19] you know, they don't really have an

[3:48:21] option to play down there with the

[3:48:22] exception of the few that have access

[3:48:24] >> to the temporary nets that are there

[3:48:26] now.

[3:48:27] >> Yeah.

[3:48:27] >> Um I would just differentiate that um a

[3:48:30] couple items maybe to help uh color the

[3:48:33] picture that we've tried to draw in this

[3:48:34] report uh thus far. Um, one is that the

[3:48:38] nets that we are looking at are a higher

[3:48:41] grade net than what is currently stored

[3:48:44] in the box down there that some of the

[3:48:46] uh, winter club members have access to.

[3:48:48] >> Um, and they're actually on rollers, so

[3:48:50] they would stay. They'd be very easy to

[3:48:53] slide them into place and then have a

[3:48:55] court going up, take down. Yeah, they're

[3:48:58] just you slide them over, lock the

[3:49:00] casters, boom, you have a like real

[3:49:02] high-end tournament level net and court

[3:49:05] available,

[3:49:06] >> right?

[3:49:06] >> And you would want to lock them away.

[3:49:08] Like would that be part of the

[3:49:09] [clears throat]

[3:49:10] >> Well, we would secure them. So, we we've

[3:49:12] talked about that obviously in

[3:49:13] operations cuz, you know, this is, you

[3:49:14] know, an asset that would be sitting

[3:49:16] there. So, we lock the or sorry, each

[3:49:19] night our our crews go around and lock

[3:49:20] certain things. Historically, we haven't

[3:49:22] locked the tennis courts, but we can.

[3:49:24] Okay. Uh, and because they'd be

[3:49:25] constructed and longer, that would be

[3:49:27] the first step that we would take. We'd

[3:49:28] also explore options if we can just lock

[3:49:30] them against the fence and then they

[3:49:31] stay, you know, put and don't get messed

[3:49:33] around.

[3:49:34] >> So, we'll be exploring options, but we

[3:49:36] do feel like there are options to try

[3:49:38] and keep it secure. Obviously,

[3:49:40] >> somebody who's really motivated can

[3:49:42] figure things out, right? Um, so I just,

[3:49:45] you know, want to say that as far as

[3:49:47] sliding them into place, um, that, uh,

[3:49:50] is actually quite an easy, um, proposal.

[3:49:54] with these nets. And moreover, you get

[3:49:56] to then take advantage of two courts

[3:49:58] because there's actually pickle ball

[3:49:59] lines painted on two of the three tennis

[3:50:01] courts. And so if one was being played

[3:50:03] on and one wasn't, then you could move

[3:50:05] it to either as opposed to having just

[3:50:07] one single or two courts on one court,

[3:50:10] right?

[3:50:11] >> As well, and you know, this is probably

[3:50:13] something that I should have written

[3:50:14] better in option number two is, you

[3:50:17] know, we've said remove the tennis net

[3:50:18] adjacent to the basketball area. You

[3:50:21] know, there is possibility that you

[3:50:22] could move that to the middle court to

[3:50:24] have pickle ball because there is

[3:50:25] basketball nets on either end of the

[3:50:27] tennis court that would ultimately be

[3:50:28] shut down if you're

[3:50:30] >> playing pickle. You can't really play

[3:50:31] basketball when somebody's playing

[3:50:33] tennis there anyways. But

[3:50:34] >> when there's tennis, the nets in the

[3:50:36] middle, you have more of a half court to

[3:50:37] play basketball. Right.

[3:50:39] >> Right. So if you know we could you know

[3:50:42] if council did want to go the permanent

[3:50:45] route um then we could look at that

[3:50:47] middle court and then it would because

[3:50:49] one of the things that staff really

[3:50:51] wants to maintain down here is the

[3:50:54] multi-use of the facility

[3:50:57] >> uh and having those options. So we feel

[3:50:59] like having the tennis courts there it's

[3:51:00] great if you want to play tennis you can

[3:51:02] play tennis with two of the three courts

[3:51:04] you can put the pickle ball nets in and

[3:51:05] you'd have you know two courts available

[3:51:07] there. Plus then we also maintain the

[3:51:09] basketball nets on either end.

[3:51:11] >> Yeah.

[3:51:12] >> All of this is, you know, generally in

[3:51:14] mind to see how this works, see how it

[3:51:16] goes. We do believe that there's demand.

[3:51:18] I think that's pretty clear for anybody

[3:51:19] who's talked to anybody about this.

[3:51:21] >> While there's an opportunity to work on

[3:51:24] what is this sort of more longer term

[3:51:26] solution, which is that you'll see at

[3:51:28] the end of the report, the attachment,

[3:51:30] there's actually the resident proposal

[3:51:32] for permanent courts, right? So some

[3:51:34] gives us time to do some thinking about

[3:51:36] where those possibly could be.

[3:51:38] >> Okay.

[3:51:38] >> We're really focused on keeping um green

[3:51:41] space green space down at Lakeside.

[3:51:43] >> So um be somewhere else, but that's more

[3:51:46] color for the picture.

[3:51:47] >> If I may have a follow-up question to

[3:51:49] that. [clears throat]

[3:51:49] >> Sure. So what I part of what as I was

[3:51:51] thinking this through that I could see

[3:51:53] conflict because you know when I played

[3:51:54] tennis years ago it there would be

[3:51:57] situations where you're in line waiting

[3:51:59] for a court and if you've got the mix of

[3:52:01] pickle ball and tennis you can imagine a

[3:52:03] scenario where some tennis players

[3:52:04] playing and behind them is the pickle

[3:52:06] ball so they come onto the court they

[3:52:08] take over the net and then do you know

[3:52:10] what I mean and then you've got like a

[3:52:12] weird dynamic there where then then the

[3:52:14] next people are want to play tennis or

[3:52:16] those guys then go back in line to play

[3:52:17] tennis then the the net [clears throat]

[3:52:19] has to be moved away and then the tennis

[3:52:20] has to be set up. It just seemed

[3:52:22] unnecessarily complex if both of them

[3:52:25] would be in active use anyways.

[3:52:28] >> Well, when we can look at, you know,

[3:52:30] [clears throat] I think the the portable

[3:52:33] net piece is like that's a high quality

[3:52:36] just as as good of an option as a

[3:52:40] permanent net there.

[3:52:41] >> Yeah.

[3:52:41] >> So, you know, do you you know, then you

[3:52:44] could look at you could designate the

[3:52:46] middle courts as pickle ball.

[3:52:48] >> Yeah. and you know and tennis is on the

[3:52:52] other two courts and if there's

[3:52:54] basketball you know tennis would have to

[3:52:56] share with basketball. Um so I think

[3:52:59] there's some options around reducing

[3:53:02] that conflict that certainly has come up

[3:53:04] as you know are we going to create

[3:53:05] conflict is someone you know like person

[3:53:09] you know two little two teenagers are

[3:53:11] playing basketball and screws up the

[3:53:14] tennis players and and pickle ball

[3:53:16] players and um so that would be

[3:53:19] definitely something we're monitoring is is this working is you know we have a

[3:53:23] vision of multi-purpose

[3:53:26] ideal in the ideal world. But

[3:53:28] >> if it just creates conflict, then and I think the portable nets still give you

[3:53:34] options to say, "Okay, well, we're just

[3:53:36] going to designate this pickle ball.

[3:53:38] It's it's not moving. You can't we'll

[3:53:40] take down the tennis court net and and

[3:53:43] it's a pickle balls court, right?"

[3:53:45] >> And you know, the idea of that multi-use

[3:53:47] and like overcoming those challenges is

[3:53:50] like an important part of shared space

[3:53:52] like that too, right? So that you know

[3:53:54] it's not one camp tennis camp and the

[3:53:56] pickle ball camp and they're all just

[3:53:57] staring at each other, right? It's like,

[3:53:59] well, work it out. You know, this is

[3:54:00] what public access is all about.

[3:54:03] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, for sure. I

[3:54:05] just can just imagine scenarios where

[3:54:07] you get this lineup of pickle ballers

[3:54:08] and then there's one tennis group in the

[3:54:10] middle of four groups of they come on

[3:54:12] and they move everything out and it's

[3:54:14] just like

[3:54:15] >> anyways, but I trust you guys.

[3:54:17] >> I think it's sort of working now. Um

[3:54:20] like not only is there u people that are

[3:54:23] in club that have the portable net down

[3:54:26] there that they can set up

[3:54:27] >> net

[3:54:28] >> but there's also um yeah people that

[3:54:30] bring their own nets down there and play

[3:54:32] and then there's also people that will

[3:54:33] play over top of the the uh tennis nets

[3:54:38] and I think it speaks to the you know

[3:54:40] this is really intended to keep it

[3:54:43] multi-use by groups sometime you know

[3:54:47] the city's discuss with us about

[3:54:50] A longer term solution sounds good.

[3:54:53] >> And the key here is it's free. This is

[3:54:56] public space.

[3:54:57] >> Yeah. Yeah, totally.

[3:54:58] >> You know, not everybody can belong to

[3:54:59] the tennis club and we heard not

[3:55:01] everybody can afford to belong to the

[3:55:03] pickle ball club. I've got counselor

[3:55:05] Paige and then I've got counselor Tate.

[3:55:07] >> Okay. Like I'm good with whatever is

[3:55:10] flexible. Uh that multi-use piece is

[3:55:13] important. And we had mentioned

[3:55:15] uh RCK staff had already been given some

[3:55:19] direction to look at having some

[3:55:22] additional equipment at the paddle

[3:55:23] center. Um this is going to be

[3:55:26] complimentary or or instead of so just

[3:55:29] to keep that uh just to share that for

[3:55:32] those of us who are at Wreck 5 will have

[3:55:34] heard it but not maybe everybody else.

[3:55:37] Uh, and

[3:55:39] the the basketball courts are so well

[3:55:42] done and the lighting is so good. And I

[3:55:46] would be curious when it comes to those

[3:55:48] tennis courts if we can improve some of

[3:55:50] the light fixtures there. If we're

[3:55:53] spending $6,000 on equipment and if

[3:55:55] there's going to be any kind of

[3:55:56] improvement on lines,

[3:55:58] um, as we go into future season, it is quite they're quite

[3:56:04] superior fixtures on the basketball side

[3:56:07] of things, which both from a lighting

[3:56:09] quality perspective, from an from a

[3:56:11] height perspective and how they light

[3:56:12] the court, I just think it's more

[3:56:14] comfortable when we get into this kind

[3:56:16] of season, which is a lot of the year

[3:56:18] quite honestly at the start and the end

[3:56:19] of the season, just to improve those

[3:56:21] lighting, have one kind of consistent.

[3:56:26] » Yeah, there's some improvements that

[3:56:27] have been identified for the lighting

[3:56:28] down there, such as having it on a

[3:56:30] timer, right?

[3:56:32] >> So that uh you can actually

[3:56:34] >> turn it on and then it goes off and we

[3:56:35] aren't just bathing everything in light

[3:56:37] when there's nobody playing. So also

[3:56:39] good. Yeah, we have some electrical work

[3:56:41] to do down there. So that's something

[3:56:42] that we've discussed in the past.

[3:56:45] >> Council Tate,

[3:56:47] >> thanks so much. um in my recollection

[3:56:50] after that big windstorm there was a

[3:56:52] quite a large um private donation to

[3:56:55] repair the tennis courts and I just

[3:56:56] wanted to make sure that we were um

[3:56:58] looping those folks in if there were any

[3:57:01] permanent changes being made just to

[3:57:03] have those conversations because I think

[3:57:05] that they were well you know I'm open to

[3:57:09] um the multi-use I'm a big fan of

[3:57:11] multi-use but just making sure that

[3:57:13] perhaps there's some discussions that

[3:57:15] can be had there as Am

[3:57:19] I miss am I misremembering?

[3:57:21] >> Well, there's just to be clear, yes,

[3:57:23] thereation, but the city did put in um

[3:57:27] substantial money as as well. So,

[3:57:29] >> Okay.

[3:57:30] >> A private uh individual. Um

[3:57:34] >> Okay.

[3:57:34] >> Yeah.

[3:57:36] >> Okay. Good. Just to and maybe just have

[3:57:39] a quick email. Hey, just if there was

[3:57:41] permanent changes being made, I'm not

[3:57:43] sure what would be the standard and

[3:57:45] likely we've never encountered that

[3:57:46] before, but

[3:57:47] >> boy, for every uh policy, there was a

[3:57:50] reason, right?

[3:57:52] >> Yeah, I Yeah, we've discussed that,

[3:57:54] Councelor Tate. Um and to the city

[3:57:57] manager's point um while we really

[3:57:59] appreciate uh the the support provided

[3:58:02] by uh the family um you know and this we

[3:58:07] did have just sort of cursory

[3:58:09] discussions with them about this and um

[3:58:12] you know I think that this temporary

[3:58:14] solution would fit with you know their

[3:58:18] perspective on it but um you know at the

[3:58:20] end of the day it is a public asset uh

[3:58:22] and so needs to be managed for the

[3:58:25] public. Um, and that's that's sort of

[3:58:27] where we landed on that discussion, but

[3:58:29] we certainly had it internally.

[3:58:33] >> Yeah. Oh, I I agree. It's public asset.

[3:58:35] I just would be curious if if people

[3:58:38] were to find out like through a

[3:58:40] newspaper article or some kind of

[3:58:42] Facebook post, it might feel a little

[3:58:44] bit weird when there's just an

[3:58:46] opportunity just to do that outreach,

[3:58:47] but it sounds like that's already done.

[3:58:49] So, yay. Thanks.

[3:58:50] >> Yep.

[3:58:52] >> Cerate. Um I'm interested is there any

[3:58:55] way that we or how do we monitor use at

[3:58:59] that site?

[3:59:00] >> Yeah. Formally, um

[3:59:04] we don't

[3:59:04] >> I guess we could create a like when you

[3:59:07] go for a hike, we could put a register

[3:59:08] in there and ask people to sign up on

[3:59:10] there.

[3:59:11] >> Something like that, you know.

[3:59:12] >> Is there anything illegal about putting

[3:59:14] a camera there that would just flick on

[3:59:16] every time somebody was using it?

[3:59:17] >> A privacy thing.

[3:59:18] >> Yeah.

[3:59:20] >> Yes.

[3:59:20] >> I'm Yeah. I'm just Yeah. I'm not saying

[3:59:23] to take Oh,

[3:59:25] >> yeah. I [clears throat] hear you. Yeah.

[3:59:27] Like some easy way to count it or

[3:59:29] >> some easy way to like when you drive

[3:59:31] down the road and there's a thing on the

[3:59:32] road and you go over. So maybe I don't

[3:59:35] know. I I think we're making decisions

[3:59:38] without

[3:59:39] >> complete information. I understand there

[3:59:41] is a strong need in the community and

[3:59:43] this sounds like a a great temporary

[3:59:45] solution. I'd also be interested to know

[3:59:48] if 60,000 so a $30,000 net if there's

[3:59:52] two of them, right?

[3:59:54] >> 3,000 or $6,000 for the two.

[3:59:57] >> Sorry. Wow. Obviously read that one

[3:59:59] wrong.

[4:00:00] >> Yeah.

[4:00:00] >> Um Yeah. Will they be able to be reused

[4:00:04] at some permanent site or will they

[4:00:05] always just be

[4:00:07] >> the the quality that we're getting?

[4:00:09] Yeah, they'd definitely be able to be

[4:00:11] reused or continue to be an option down

[4:00:13] there if the permanent site arises, you

[4:00:16] know, just to have those. Um, and you

[4:00:19] know, we've this is something that uh

[4:00:21] we've been talking about for a while

[4:00:23] down there. And so staff um has been

[4:00:27] paying attention, I guess you would say.

[4:00:28] So just anecdotal uh you know, evidence

[4:00:31] about who's using using it. And they do

[4:00:35] find that it's, you know, quite often

[4:00:37] like tennis is is quite busy down there.

[4:00:39] Pickle ball does get played. You know,

[4:00:41] to councelor Lockenberg's uh point too,

[4:00:44] you know, you'd probably see even more

[4:00:45] pickle ball if there were two nets set

[4:00:47] up there. Um but it's something that

[4:00:49] we'll certainly be watching as we go. Uh

[4:00:52] and as far as um getting those

[4:00:56] statistical accounts aren't really built

[4:00:58] for that right now and we'll have to put

[4:01:00] some thought to it to try and understand

[4:01:02] how much use it would see.

[4:01:05] >> Yeah. I want to make sure we're

[4:01:06] investing where

[4:01:07] >> wisely. Yeah.

[4:01:08] >> Yeah.

[4:01:09] >> Use our funds where we're serving the

[4:01:12] greatest number of the population to

[4:01:15] meet the best and highest value. Um, my

[4:01:18] last question is, do we have a ballpark

[4:01:20] of what the two permanent would cost?

[4:01:21] Maybe that's why I got the $60,000.

[4:01:24] >> No, about uh on the court.

[4:01:26] >> No, no, I'm saying to put in two

[4:01:29] permanent

[4:01:30] >> It's about the same. Yeah, we did ran

[4:01:32] the numbers. So, and and realistically,

[4:01:34] these nets are are less expensive. Uh

[4:01:37] the ones that we found uh were two grand

[4:01:39] a piece.

[4:01:40] >> I don't mean permanent nets. Sorry, I'm

[4:01:41] asking the wrong question. Oh,

[4:01:43] >> at some point in time when we do take do

[4:01:47] the work to find out where we're going

[4:01:49] to put permanent

[4:01:50] >> pickle ball courts, do we have a

[4:01:53] ballpark figure?

[4:01:54] >> Be higher than that and it would be find

[4:01:57] grant funding.

[4:02:00] >> Yeah, I did reach out to uh CBT and they

[4:02:02] have funded a number of pickle ball

[4:02:05] courts across the the region. Yeah,

[4:02:07] >> it just did rebel stoke for 180. Rebel

[4:02:10] still got 100.

[4:02:11] >> So more than 60.

[4:02:13] >> Yeah.

[4:02:13] So I don't know when he got

[4:02:15] >> I don't know either. [laughter] I'm

[4:02:16] still trying to figure it out.

[4:02:18] >> And that's probably Well, and I think

[4:02:19] that was a bigger project than almost.

[4:02:21] It might not have just been pickle ball

[4:02:23] courts, but

[4:02:24] >> Okay.

[4:02:24] >> Yeah, they might add other stuff there,

[4:02:25] but I think

[4:02:26] >> it's going to be sight specific.

[4:02:28] >> Yeah. I mean, I think this is really

[4:02:29] just the beginning.

[4:02:30] >> Yeah.

[4:02:31] >> This is a sport that we know is

[4:02:34] >> substantially growing. So, this is a I

[4:02:36] think this is a great initial

[4:02:39] move to make that available,

[4:02:42] >> but we definitely need to move forward

[4:02:46] whenever, but I'm [snorts] sure the next

[4:02:48] council will be talking about. So, let's

[4:02:50] give it a try to get a resolution on the

[4:02:52] floor. So, I

[4:02:55] >> think we moved it. Oh, we didn't.

[4:02:56] >> No, we haven't because um

[4:02:57] >> I'll move the move the main motion.

[4:02:59] >> Okay. And is there a seconder?

[4:03:02] Councelor Payne. So, councelor Paige,

[4:03:06] >> the council direct staff to purchase two

[4:03:08] temporary pickball net systems for use

[4:03:10] at Lakeside Parks.

[4:03:13] The Lakeside Park courts have

[4:03:15] >> been moved and seconded.

[4:03:19] >> Question. Um, should we add for a budget

[4:03:22] of up to $6,000 up to? Yeah.

[4:03:25] >> Yeah.

[4:03:27] >> If they cost more than that,

[4:03:29] >> I think we've we've scouted them.

[4:03:31] They're their

[4:03:33] >> grand piece. We think it's just a matter

[4:03:34] of whether we can get them and whether

[4:03:37] costing will shift. That was being

[4:03:40] conservative.

[4:03:40] >> Yeah, I saw two. Yeah, between two and

[4:03:43] three that you can get high quality.

[4:03:45] >> And is the mover fine with just adding

[4:03:46] up to $6,000?

[4:03:49] >> Super friendly.

[4:03:49] >> Okay, that's great. Then so you have a

[4:03:52] question still. Um just cuz thinking of

[4:03:55] cricket thinking of some of the other

[4:03:57] stuff are we is this the solution or

[4:03:59] we've run this solution past pickle ball

[4:04:01] or the people who have advocated for

[4:04:03] pickball at least before we go do a buy

[4:04:07] uh I've had some informal discussions a

[4:04:10] little bit more um no they they want to

[4:04:15] you know they want to start here they're

[4:04:18] really what their goal is to is to have

[4:04:20] permanent public courts [clears throat]

[4:04:21] and

[4:04:22] >> in Nelson

[4:04:24] um

[4:04:25] they would like two dedicated nets as

[4:04:28] their first option but as I you know as

[4:04:33] the GM and I said the the quality of

[4:04:36] these nets are equivalent to the quality

[4:04:38] of a permanent net um we need to I think

[4:04:42] you have to be open if in the event

[4:04:45] there is conflict and it's not working

[4:04:47] then I think you can still achieve you

[4:04:50] don't need a permanent net to achieve

[4:04:52] that you could just designate a court as

[4:04:55] permanent pickle ball, take the, you

[4:04:56] know, the tennis net down and then it

[4:04:58] would be a a pickle ball court, right?

[4:05:01] So, so I don't think you're going to

[4:05:02] lose all that.

[4:05:04] >> Yeah.

[4:05:04] >> Um I would just like us to circle back

[4:05:08] with the group before we pull a trigger

[4:05:10] on a particular equipment. Just this is

[4:05:12] just see what surfaces.

[4:05:14] >> Yeah, we'll go back to them in terms of

[4:05:16] what net they would recommend.

[4:05:17] >> Buy one, we see how it works. Maybe the

[4:05:19] secondary by two.

[4:05:20] >> No, I think you want to

[4:05:22] one court. They definitely asked for

[4:05:25] two.

[4:05:26] >> Yeah,

[4:05:27] >> you'd just be wasting a court if you

[4:05:28] didn't do two.

[4:05:29] >> Okay, fair enough. I just want us to

[4:05:31] circle back. I don't want it to

[4:05:34] >> be installed show up and then someone

[4:05:36] who's actually playing pickle ball will

[4:05:37] be like well you know it really should

[4:05:38] have been

[4:05:40] >> other product or

[4:05:41] >> we definitely have communicated that we will uh talk to that folks that

[4:05:47] are the experts in this field of what

[4:05:50] they would recommend as the best

[4:05:53] uh

[4:05:55] I guess

[4:05:56] >> can I can I ask one more question before

[4:05:57] we vote

[4:05:59] >> yeah for sure I'm hey I could be here

[4:06:01] all night. [laughter]

[4:06:03] >> I just want to push you just a little

[4:06:06] bit more to make sure that I'm imagining

[4:06:07] this right. These nets, cuz it's not in

[4:06:10] the in the gen package, these nets would

[4:06:12] be just out, right? Like they would

[4:06:15] >> they're on permanent rollers.

[4:06:17] >> Permanent rollers.

[4:06:17] >> You push them off the cord

[4:06:18] >> and they're kind of rolled up and you

[4:06:20] would kind of just like

[4:06:23] >> they're like this.

[4:06:24] >> This

[4:06:25] >> and you just kind of roll them

[4:06:26] >> up against the fence. Yeah. Put them up

[4:06:27] against the fence. have it like crank

[4:06:29] tensioner, like a winch tensioner.

[4:06:31] >> Okay.

[4:06:31] >> So, they're like Yeah, they're very

[4:06:33] >> So, really quick, you just slide it in,

[4:06:34] slide it out.

[4:06:35] >> Slide it in, lock the casters, and

[4:06:37] they're like tournament level. The ones

[4:06:39] that we've scoped out are tournament

[4:06:41] level, like, you know, regulation.

[4:06:44] >> But then the other thing is, wouldn't

[4:06:45] you have to take down the tennis net?

[4:06:47] >> It actually keeps the tennis between,

[4:06:49] >> you know, [clears throat] splits the two

[4:06:50] or anything.

[4:06:51] >> No, no, it splits the Well, there's

[4:06:53] enough room between them.

[4:06:55] >> Yeah.

[4:06:55] >> Okay. So it's not not a danger to be

[4:06:57] like running back and then bang into a

[4:07:00] net.

[4:07:00] >> Well, you have that in pickle ball

[4:07:01] anyway. You have a fence or a wall

[4:07:04] >> in pickle ball.

[4:07:04] >> A lot of movement necessarily.

[4:07:07] >> It's not like tennis like you're

[4:07:08] >> No, there's a lot of movement

[4:07:09] >> but not that kind.

[4:07:10] >> But you have got it.

[4:07:12] >> You already have that barrier. You have

[4:07:13] a a fence and the ones up there.

[4:07:15] >> Sure. Okay.

[4:07:16] >> There's a fence behind you, right?

[4:07:17] >> Yeah. It sounds

[4:07:18] >> in Mary Hall. There's a wall behind you.

[4:07:21] >> Yeah. Yeah. I know that

[4:07:22] >> there's enough room.

[4:07:23] >> Sounds like you guys got to check it

[4:07:25] Yeah, there's enough room for for that

[4:07:27] space. Cool.

[4:07:30] >> Okay, motion's been moved and seconded.

[4:07:34] All those in favor

[4:07:37] and opposed

[4:07:39] and that carries. Okay, moving on to

[4:07:43] 12D, the civic um center. So, this is

[4:07:47] our interim um risk mitigation strategy.

[4:07:50] Council is being asked to confirm its

[4:07:52] policy direction to continue operating

[4:07:54] the civic arena and indoor soccer

[4:07:55] facility as important community

[4:07:57] recreation assets while long-term

[4:07:59] capital planning and funding efforts

[4:08:01] continue for future facility upgrades.

[4:08:03] Council is also being asked to adopt the

[4:08:05] roof monitoring and risk mitigation

[4:08:07] program as the framework used to manage

[4:08:09] winter roof load risks and support safe

[4:08:11] occupancy of both facilities. The

[4:08:14] program establishes monitoring,

[4:08:16] inspection, recordkeeping, operational

[4:08:19] response measurements, communication

[4:08:21] protocols, and authority for temporary

[4:08:23] restrictions or closures when warranted

[4:08:25] by conditions.

[4:08:27] This approach is consistent with the

[4:08:28] facility strategy and asset management

[4:08:30] principles discussed with council during

[4:08:32] the 2026 budget process while

[4:08:35] recognizing that aging facilities may

[4:08:36] continue to operate where risk can be

[4:08:38] appropriately monitored and managed to

[4:08:40] long-term renewal or replacement

[4:08:41] solutions are planned and funded. The

[4:08:44] recommendation balances public and

[4:08:46] employee safety, community recreation

[4:08:48] needs, surface continuity, responsible

[4:08:51] asset management and financial

[4:08:53] stewardship.

[4:08:55] So we have a report there. We talked

[4:08:57] about this in previous seasons

[4:09:01] and there is a recommendation there.

[4:09:06] >> Council Loenberg, is there a secondary

[4:09:07] of the recommendation? Councelor Panero.

[4:09:11] Council, any discussions?

[4:09:15] » I just want to you have the engineer

[4:09:18] report.

[4:09:19] >> [snorts]

[4:09:19] >> Um,

[4:09:21] and we just want to be clear that

[4:09:23] certainly the structural engineer has

[4:09:26] said that roof is so underbuilt at

[4:09:29] current um current snow loads even

[4:09:32] though there's no sign of distress at

[4:09:34] the present time that they weren't

[4:09:37] comfortable of saying you can just keep

[4:09:39] monitoring it and not address it. So the

[4:09:42] strategy is an interimm strategy. we

[4:09:45] will um apply for grants to uh do the

[4:09:49] structural upgrade um

[4:09:50] >> civic arena,

[4:09:52] >> right?

[4:09:52] >> On the civic arena on the arena. Um, so

[4:09:55] [clears throat] we just, yeah, just want

[4:09:56] to be clear that everyone is aware that

[4:10:00] certainly the engineer developed what

[4:10:02] that monitoring program looks like and

[4:10:05] including inspections each year, but um,

[4:10:09] certainly has identified that they

[4:10:11] couldn't sign off on that's a permanent

[4:10:14] solution.

[4:10:18] Okay, seeing nobody's hand up.

[4:10:23] Um,

[4:10:24] >> council,

[4:10:25] >> sorry, I have a question.

[4:10:26] >> Thank you.

[4:10:28] >> Thanks. Um, so do I understand correctly

[4:10:31] that the program is that mitigation plan

[4:10:33] from 2024 and we're we're just

[4:10:37] reaffirming our

[4:10:39] approval of that that program or is

[4:10:41] there a new differently documented

[4:10:43] program?

[4:10:44] >> No.

[4:10:46] >> Okay.

[4:10:46] >> It's from uh 24 and then we use that

[4:10:49] adapted it for the soccer facility after

[4:10:51] that. U okay uh assessment was

[4:10:54] completed. So

[4:10:56] >> same uh broadstrokes uh process of

[4:11:00] monitoring have um threshold depths of

[4:11:03] snow that we monitor for when it gets

[4:11:06] near those we consider what our actions

[4:11:09] are. when they hit those thresholds or

[4:11:11] just before they do we close the

[4:11:13] facility to all personnel uh you know

[4:11:16] significantly exceeds then we will do a

[4:11:19] more thorough inspection prior to

[4:11:21] reopening the facility.

[4:11:23] >> Uh those same basic tenants are there

[4:11:26] from the 2024 plan and this getting

[4:11:29] council to um

[4:11:31] >> you know have this be a council policy.

[4:11:35] [clears throat]

[4:11:36] >> Okay. It is it written is there a policy

[4:11:39] written down somewhere? I'm I'm miss I'm

[4:11:41] just trying to understand the

[4:11:42] attachments honestly. It is it'll be an

[4:11:45] internal document and it's not written

[4:11:47] yet. It's going to be based on that 2024

[4:11:49] one and extended to the soccer pitch but

[4:11:53] it's not actually cap like it's not

[4:11:55] actually in these documents the new

[4:11:57] program.

[4:11:58] >> Uh well we are just using the existing

[4:12:01] program.

[4:12:03] >> Gotcha. Okay. So the 2024 one we're just

[4:12:06] reaffirming that and extending it to the

[4:12:08] soccer.

[4:12:10] >> Yes, we are to for council. This is um

[4:12:14] you know the Marchie case would be a

[4:12:16] good example of of why we are here. So

[4:12:18] that this isn't a staff decision or

[4:12:21] couldn't be conceived to be a staff

[4:12:22] decision to operate like this. So this

[4:12:25] >> okay

[4:12:26] >> we are looking for council to provide

[4:12:28] direction to staff to use this uh uh

[4:12:31] approach to manage the facilities in lie

[4:12:35] of you know until we are able to upgrade

[4:12:37] the civic arena roof and um you know the report speaks to it but the

[4:12:43] engineering uh um report for the soccer

[4:12:47] center came back and did not recommend

[4:12:49] an upgrade. It did identify that it was

[4:12:52] underbuilt to today's compared to

[4:12:54] today's snow loads, but that it doesn't

[4:12:56] show any signs of stress and there um

[4:13:00] you know has performed sufficiently over

[4:13:02] its lifetime. So there was not that

[4:13:05] recommendation for an upgrade that there

[4:13:07] was on the civic arena. We still operate

[4:13:10] them in the same manner to you know uh

[4:13:13] ensure safety of participants and staff.

[4:13:16] Um, but this is the the route going

[4:13:18] forward and staff is looking for counsel

[4:13:21] to direct us and essentially make

[4:13:24] >> Thank you. And do so would I would it be

[4:13:27] the case then that after if this

[4:13:29] decision was approved then there would

[4:13:31] be a new actual policy with a policy

[4:13:34] number or just this agenda item. This is

[4:13:38] how we do it. This is our approach.

[4:13:39] Here's our rationale. Council approved

[4:13:41] it. I'm just curious. Just to clarify,

[4:13:45] you are [clears throat]

[4:13:46] approving that mitigation plan for the

[4:13:48] civic arena. So, it's the

[4:13:51] >> um I guess for a lack of a formal

[4:13:54] policy, that is your policy on how we're

[4:13:57] going to manage this

[4:13:58] >> building. And I agree. I think we should

[4:14:01] formalize it in an actual policy that is

[4:14:04] adopted by council. So, for now, this is

[4:14:08] that is your policy and we'll formalize

[4:14:10] it into a a proper policy. So it's

[4:14:13] clear. It should not be unclear.

[4:14:16] >> Thank you.

[4:14:19] » Okay. Seeing no council page.

[4:14:23] >> Sorry.

[4:14:25] Um

[4:14:26] right now as the language is, we're just

[4:14:29] contemplating how we're going to set

[4:14:32] direction for future funding and

[4:14:34] long-term capital planning for the roof

[4:14:36] itself. But there needs to be a bit of a

[4:14:39] needs to be a strategic plan about the

[4:14:41] investment in the building completely uh

[4:14:44] or at least that side of it. So, it's

[4:14:46] like how do we

[4:14:48] decide long term what we're doing with

[4:14:51] the the improvements from everything to

[4:14:54] change rooms to outside facades to

[4:14:57] reinforcement if there's solar panels on

[4:14:59] the roof to like I'm I'm throwing some

[4:15:02] lobsters out on the table both as

[4:15:04] serious and unserious pieces like what

[4:15:06] is the contemplation of that footprint

[4:15:08] long term if this is going to be here

[4:15:10] for a hundred years even the

[4:15:12] conversations about the allocation we do

[4:15:15] with correct that is used to basically

[4:15:17] define costing for rental fees is is

[4:15:21] potentially not sufficient to put this

[4:15:24] building anywhere after 25 years where

[4:15:26] we could really make the investments and

[4:15:27] means it's still an asset 80 years from

[4:15:30] now if that's if it's the last historic

[4:15:32] heritage arena that's still in operation

[4:15:35] of its kind you know what is the very

[4:15:38] long-term plan for it and before we're

[4:15:40] looking for $12 million to replace a

[4:15:42] roof

[4:15:43] >> well Um

[4:15:45] >> I'm just

[4:15:45] >> at this Yeah. At this point um in your

[4:15:49] facility

[4:15:51] uh plan that you adopted this building

[4:15:54] would be just maintained would not be

[4:15:57] improved. Um so that's where that's the

[4:16:00] current plan. If you want to change that

[4:16:03] then you've shown you know what the

[4:16:07] implications over the 10 years. Uh once

[4:16:10] we get past that 10 years, we start to

[4:16:13] uh hopefully generate uh you know enough

[4:16:17] funds to start to renew buildings and

[4:16:20] you'll have to you know this building

[4:16:23] can be in the mix of it. So

[4:16:25] realistically over this next 10 years

[4:16:28] unless there's a change in in funding uh

[4:16:32] i.e. uh significantly more taxation from

[4:16:36] some party or a large grant, then you're

[4:16:39] maintaining this building as is. And

[4:16:42] we're dealing with, you know, those

[4:16:44] structural components of the of the

[4:16:46] building, you know, HVAC, ro grooves, uh

[4:16:48] in this case, some structural

[4:16:50] deficiencies. But again, this is

[4:16:52] contingent on getting a grant for those

[4:16:55] structural deficiencies. So, we're

[4:16:57] trying to buy some time. Um, in 10 years

[4:17:00] time, unless something's changed in that

[4:17:03] 10-year period, then, um, we're going to

[4:17:06] maintain this building as is, uh,

[4:17:09] hopefully get a grant to, um, you know,

[4:17:12] deal with the roof. And that gives you

[4:17:15] capacity to decide what you want to do

[4:17:17] going forward.

[4:17:18] >> Yeah, I I support where we're at right

[4:17:21] now. I support affirming the policy. I

[4:17:24] support buying some time in the

[4:17:26] subsequent years of us buying time.

[4:17:28] >> Yeah.

[4:17:28] >> You know, is it interesting to maybe

[4:17:31] have an arena foundation if the

[4:17:35] community wanted to form one? Could we

[4:17:37] contemplate how we might set forward a

[4:17:39] garden path for that to happen where

[4:17:42] we're not necessarily chasing the cost?

[4:17:44] But if the community starts to show up

[4:17:46] and is able to contribute some sort of

[4:17:48] meaningful, we're able to match or more

[4:17:50] effectively match and have a longerterm

[4:17:51] vision for it as [snorts] opposed to

[4:17:54] waiting the 25 years it'll take to get

[4:17:56] on the front side of our $80 million

[4:18:00] capital uh liabilities that we have. I

[4:18:03] just before we just fix this one big

[4:18:06] thing and chase one grant for one thing,

[4:18:08] I'd like to know where the building is

[4:18:10] going and I'd like to think about how we

[4:18:12] enable that.

[4:18:14] >> Yeah, I think that's a yeah, it doesn't

[4:18:16] take very long for 10 years to go by.

[4:18:18] So, um you just start contemplating what

[4:18:23] you know what the future of this

[4:18:24] building is. We're buying time at at the

[4:18:27] present time. And part of buying time is um the engineer said we need to

[4:18:33] actively be searching for grants for

[4:18:35] this and um or you need to they're not

[4:18:40] willing to sign off and you're looking

[4:18:42] at bigger risk. U if there was an event

[4:18:46] there and and you got an engineer that

[4:18:48] said we said this was not a permanent

[4:18:51] solution and you as council chose to

[4:18:54] just ignore my advice and and try try to make a interimm strategy

[4:19:02] a long-term strategy and you know

[4:19:04] recommend that and you know we you know

[4:19:06] we're not engineers but um you know the

[4:19:12] I guess what gives us some comfort is

[4:19:14] we're not seeing any um or the engineers

[4:19:17] wasn't seeing any um um structure or

[4:19:21] stress on that structure but they also

[4:19:23] pointed out there's been failures

[4:19:25] elsewhere with similar type of uh under

[4:19:30] um live load conditions in other places.

[4:19:34] I think uh Prince George had a failure,

[4:19:36] Cranberrook had a failure. So

[4:19:39] >> again,

[4:19:39] >> yeah, these are, you know, they're not

[4:19:41] just making things up. They can fail.

[4:19:44] >> Mhm. I get that.

[4:19:47] >> Okay, seeing no other hands. I'm going

[4:19:51] to try this again. Council Tates, there

[4:19:54] are no hands. Okay.

[4:19:58] Um,

[4:19:59] yeah. So, it's been the recommendation

[4:20:01] has been moved and seconded. All those

[4:20:04] in favor

[4:20:06] and that carries. Thank you everybody.

[4:20:09] And now we are on to I think

[4:20:13] reports, minutes and

[4:20:16] reports. So, we do minutes first.

[4:20:19] >> Move receipt. And so, Councelor

[4:20:22] Lochenberg has moved receipts of the

[4:20:25] Nelson Public Library Board and the

[4:20:26] Nelson Housing Committee. Is there a

[4:20:28] seconder?

[4:20:30] Seconded by Councelor Panero.

[4:20:33] Um, any concerns, questions regarding

[4:20:36] either of these two sets of minutes?

[4:20:40] Seeing none, it's been moved and

[4:20:42] seconded for receipt of information. All

[4:20:44] those in favor?

[4:20:46] Opposed? And that carries.

[4:20:50] Moving on to reports. [snorts]

[4:20:52] So, I'm going to go slowly through this

[4:20:54] because last time I

[4:20:57] asked and we had it all passed and then

[4:20:59] people wanted to pull out. So, seeing

[4:21:02] items one through five,

[4:21:06] is there any of those items that anybody

[4:21:08] wishes to remove

[4:21:11] from the information items report at

[4:21:14] this time? Councelor Payne, what are you

[4:21:17] looking to remove? So if I have

[4:21:19] questions on them, I need to remove

[4:21:20] them.

[4:21:21] >> Yes. So which like one, two, three,

[4:21:23] four.

[4:21:24] >> Three and four.

[4:21:26] >> You're saying of one to five?

[4:21:27] >> Oh, one to five. So hopefully you're

[4:21:29] looking at the same thing I am.

[4:21:30] Development services, corporate

[4:21:32] services,

[4:21:34] >> services council agenda.

[4:21:36] >> No,

[4:21:37] I'm in correspondent.

[4:21:39] >> So you're in item number three.

[4:21:41] Corporate services.

[4:21:42] >> Yes.

[4:21:43] >> You want to set that aside. Okay. So

[4:21:45] then if I could ask for a motion to

[4:21:48] receive for informations item 1, 2, 4,

[4:21:52] and five.

[4:21:55] Moved by councelor Lockenberg. Is there

[4:21:57] a seconder?

[4:21:58] Moved by councelor Panero.

[4:22:01] One more chance. Anybody? Everybody's

[4:22:03] okay. So we're going to move one, two,

[4:22:06] four, and five for information. All

[4:22:09] those in favor?

[4:22:13] And that carries. Okay. Item three,

[4:22:16] corporate services council

[4:22:17] correspondence has been requested to be

[4:22:20] removed for further discussion.

[4:22:23] Councelor

[4:22:25] Payne.

[4:22:27] Um I number three invitation to the

[4:22:29] Gutney Tourism Summit. Um I'm just

[4:22:33] assuming that there will be a staff

[4:22:34] member attending that event.

[4:22:39] » That's probably something more

[4:22:41] interesting like

[4:22:42] >> tourism would go to

[4:22:43] >> or something. Um, we don't, you know,

[4:22:46] I've attended, uh, I know they had one

[4:22:48] in Rosland that I attended, but I don't,

[4:22:52] there's not a natural staff person that

[4:22:54] would go to this. Probably either

[4:22:56] tourism or or economic development would

[4:22:59] might send somebody.

[4:23:01] And um I'm just interested a number for

[4:23:04] the Dutch elm disease survey which was

[4:23:07] completed in the first couple of weeks

[4:23:10] of

[4:23:12] >> do we know when we'll see the results

[4:23:14] from that?

[4:23:15] >> No. And I actually sent uh earlier today

[4:23:18] an email um to operations to say hey did

[4:23:22] I never really did did you see anyone

[4:23:24] around and have we heard back? So when I

[4:23:27] hear back um I'll let you know or Yeah.

[4:23:31] And other than the newsletter, I didn't

[4:23:33] really see a communication. Was that the

[4:23:36] um one part in that correspondence said

[4:23:39] there would be a communication out to

[4:23:41] folks in case people asked us what those

[4:23:43] guys were doing? But so the newsletter

[4:23:46] was it okay?

[4:23:49] >> Yes.

[4:23:51] >> The Dutch are are you speaking of the

[4:23:53] Dutch?

[4:23:53] >> Yes.

[4:23:54] >> Okay. I don't know. It's

[4:23:57] >> the newsletter. Yeah. And then uh cuz

[4:23:59] that was coming via the

[4:24:01] >> and the link didn't work in the

[4:24:02] newsletter that I guess that's why it

[4:24:03] was problematic for me.

[4:24:05] >> Okay.

[4:24:07] >> Yeah.

[4:24:07] >> But we didn't get a request. We didn't

[4:24:09] get any emails.

[4:24:11] >> I didn't see anybody. I'm just wondering

[4:24:12] whether or not I'd be interested to see

[4:24:14] whether you got your reply back. And

[4:24:15] this ministry has been very um busy in

[4:24:20] terms of fire um and work that they're

[4:24:24] doing. and maybe they um weatherwise

[4:24:27] didn't quite get here. So

[4:24:30] >> as a consultant they had

[4:24:31] >> cuz they got in touch with us back in 24

[4:24:34] saying they were going to be coming

[4:24:35] around

[4:24:36] >> and they

[4:24:36] >> and I know I talked to invasive species

[4:24:38] about this like two years ago that

[4:24:41] >> Dutch elm because

[4:24:42] >> we do we do want to know because we have

[4:24:44] a lot of Dutch elms here and it would

[4:24:46] make a big difference in a couple of our

[4:24:48] parks if we suddenly had to start

[4:24:50] cutting down the trees because that's

[4:24:52] really the only mitigation for Dutch elm

[4:24:54] if it takes hold is to actually remove

[4:24:57] and destroy the in its totality.

[4:25:01] It's my understanding.

[4:25:05] » Just wondering. So, we don't know if

[4:25:08] they were here and we'll just wait until

[4:25:10] we get a report.

[4:25:12] >> Yeah.

[4:25:12] >> Okay.

[4:25:14] Anything else?

[4:25:19] Um, number 10, the letters to uh the

[4:25:23] federal and the provincial minister of

[4:25:25] housing, Gregor Robinson and Christine

[4:25:27] Bole. Um, excellent letters. Thank you

[4:25:29] very much. The only question that I have

[4:25:32] is when a letter like that goes out, it

[4:25:34] says a letter from mayor and council,

[4:25:37] but I don't remember seeing the letter

[4:25:39] prior to it going. So, how does that

[4:25:43] work? Help me understand. We have a

[4:25:46] policy. [clears throat]

[4:25:47] We have a policy. So unless it's asking

[4:25:49] for something or we are [clears throat]

[4:25:51] providing something, the policy says

[4:25:53] that it doesn't come to council even

[4:25:55] though it may have the mayor or council

[4:25:58] signature on it.

[4:25:59] >> Was this the one that came up through

[4:26:02] council? Yeah.

[4:26:03] >> No, this

[4:26:04] >> which one is this different?

[4:26:08] [snorts]

[4:26:08] >> Um it it covered a a lot. It like it was an excellent letter.

[4:26:14] I think we I think it came out of that

[4:26:17] and

[4:26:19] >> there was a previous letter. Oh, about

[4:26:21] the housing fund.

[4:26:23] >> Yeah. No, there's the housing fund one.

[4:26:24] This is the one that was about the fact

[4:26:26] that

[4:26:27] >> the this is about the DDC's and the the

[4:26:30] whatever. And so this was this was

[4:26:33] driven by

[4:26:33] >> came from council is what you're saying.

[4:26:35] >> It came from council. The request to

[4:26:36] have

[4:26:37] >> it as I said was great. Just wanted to

[4:26:39] understand it so it goes to the policy.

[4:26:41] That's the answer that I need.

[4:26:42] >> Yeah. just to add some addition to that.

[4:26:45] They have reached out to us now to

[4:26:47] discuss further um their ideas around

[4:26:50] this. So I think we're going to meet uh

[4:26:53] the week of I think the 31st or the 1st.

[4:26:56] We're going to have a session with FCM

[4:26:59] to talk about what we were um yeah those

[4:27:02] ideas that we shared in that letter were

[4:27:05] >> great. Yeah. No, there was a lot of

[4:27:07] really valuable information shared and

[4:27:10] requested. So, I think I hope that will

[4:27:12] move forward. Um, and I did have one

[4:27:14] more piece of correspondence that wasn't

[4:27:16] in the package. Do I have to ask about

[4:27:18] that at a separate time? [clears throat]

[4:27:21] >> Well, none of us,

[4:27:22] >> everybody got it. It was one of the, you

[4:27:25] know, two mayor and council ones.

[4:27:29] >> That's not on here.

[4:27:30] >> Well, it wouldn't They're not

[4:27:32] >> It was It was one of the email ones.

[4:27:33] Like, I'm still trying to sort out the

[4:27:36] >> They're not on here right now. Okay.

[4:27:41] So that's I guess that's what I'm trying

[4:27:42] to understand. So what I have been

[4:27:44] noticing which we discussed this evening

[4:27:48] earlier today is that letters that used

[4:27:51] to just come to us and I'm not sure

[4:27:54] where they went if we weren't reaching

[4:27:56] out and then they started to get

[4:27:57] responded to because they were

[4:27:59] operational and it was from staff and we

[4:28:02] were getting copies of that. So this is

[4:28:05] one that I didn't see a response to. So,

[4:28:08] I'm just trying to understand if it was

[4:28:10] responded to. How do I do that? We

[4:28:13] probably need to at this point right now

[4:28:17] connect with either myself, one of the

[4:28:19] three of us, and figure out probably me

[4:28:23] since I'm responsible for correspondence

[4:28:25] and um we can have a conversation about

[4:28:28] it.

[4:28:29] >> Okay. It may have been followed up on. I

[4:28:31] don't even know. And you may not have

[4:28:33] been CCD on it to date. And and the

[4:28:36] reason that I ask is when people send

[4:28:40] their correspondents as we know they're

[4:28:42] hoping that we will take some action

[4:28:44] [laughter] on it. So we seem to I

[4:28:47] believe action is being taken on many of

[4:28:49] these things which is great but if I

[4:28:52] don't know that and somebody else asks

[4:28:54] me it's harder to you know then all of a

[4:28:58] sudden it's it's email here and email

[4:29:00] there and go there. So the CCing is

[4:29:02] really optimal. So that was the sort of

[4:29:05] the discussion maybe after you left is

[4:29:07] how do we create a system that

[4:29:10] >> um that you're aware of that and there's

[4:29:12] discussion from do we just create a

[4:29:14] >> sort of give you access to you know to

[4:29:18] that database for a lack of a better

[4:29:20] word that if you're interested you can

[4:29:23] go have a look if counselor

[4:29:25] >> and we have been getting a lot of those

[4:29:27] emails we've been getting a lot of those

[4:29:28] emails of the responses for the last

[4:29:30] maybe two two and a half months I think

[4:29:32] that makes sense. Yeah. So,

[4:29:34] >> we're just looking at how we provide

[4:29:36] that information and streamline it.

[4:29:38] >> So, in this particular case, I can just

[4:29:40] forward this email to you and say, "Can

[4:29:42] I please see the response or was there a

[4:29:46] response or Yeah,

[4:29:48] >> yeah, we'll we'll we'll figure it out."

[4:29:50] >> Okay. Thank you. That's

[4:29:51] >> all I brought it for so I can

[4:29:53] understand. And that was I knew there

[4:29:55] was a presentation, but I didn't have

[4:29:57] all the details. So, that's it for me in

[4:29:59] correspondence. Thank you very much.

[4:30:01] There was a lot there. So, councelor um

[4:30:04] Paige is moving item um councelor Payne

[4:30:08] is moving item three. Is there a

[4:30:10] >> seconder

[4:30:12] receipt

[4:30:13] >> for receipt of information? Councelor

[4:30:15] Lockenberg.

[4:30:17] So, all those in favor of item three

[4:30:22] receipt of information and that carries.

[4:30:25] Thank you everybody.

[4:30:28] So

[4:30:30] and

[4:30:31] yeah great. So moving on

[4:30:36] any minutes reports

[4:30:38] motion late items. Item 16 resolution to

[4:30:42] closing the meeting to the public. It is

[4:30:44] of the opinion of the council that the

[4:30:45] public interest requires that persons

[4:30:47] other than members of council and staff

[4:30:48] and any approved audiences be excluded

[4:30:51] from this meeting and that the special

[4:30:53] closed meeting of council continue under

[4:30:55] sections 90 1 C D and G of the community

[4:31:02] charter to deal with matters related to

[4:31:03] the following labor relations security

[4:31:05] of municipal property litigation or

[4:31:08] potential litigation affecting the

[4:31:10] municipality. Is there a mover? Moved by

[4:31:12] councelor Paige, seconded by councelor

[4:31:15] Blockberg. Councelor Page, you have a

[4:31:16] question.

[4:31:17] >> We have a ecooter update in the agenda.

[4:31:20] >> The reports in the

[4:31:22] >> It was in the reports.

[4:31:23] >> Was in the correspondence

[4:31:26] to be in

[4:31:27] >> No, it was number five as well.

[4:31:29] >> Yeah, it was number five in the that we

[4:31:32] passed.

[4:31:33] >> Okay, great. That says memorand says a

[4:31:35] memo from I guess the police. Yeah,

[4:31:38] there's a whole

[4:31:39] >> looked like a

[4:31:44] part of the

[4:31:45] >> package. Okay,

[4:31:51] » you

[4:31:52] >> Yeah, no, that's fine. I just I I saw it

[4:31:54] and I was wondering if this is like

[4:31:55] meant to be for a future agenda because

[4:31:58] it

[4:31:58] >> Okay.

[4:32:02] » So, we've moved and seconded item.

[4:32:05] Sorry, who seconded it? Sorry,

[4:32:07] >> I did.

[4:32:08] >> Council Dr. B.

[4:32:09] >> Okay, thank you.

[4:32:11] >> Um,

[4:32:12] all those in favor

[4:32:15] >> and maybe we can

[4:32:16] >> and that carries.

[4:32:19] >> Maybe we can just order these so that

[4:32:21] some stuff I we can do the

[4:32:24] >> up the shelter operations.

[4:32:26] >> Yeah. Can we um can we So, it's been

[4:32:28] moved and seconded. All everybody's in

[4:32:30] favor that we're going to move in

[4:32:31] camera. Can we can let her off and then

[4:32:34] we'll

[4:32:35] >> start the agenda and reorder as

[4:32:37] necessary.

[4:32:41] » So, I'm going to I just want to stand

[4:32:45] up.

[4:32:45] >> Yeah, I'm going to stand up. I'm going

[4:32:47] to go wash.

Regular Council - 18 Aug 2026

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