[0:08] We can get back here. I'm going to call to order our regular meeting, August 17th, 2026, and it's 1128.

[0:20] We have the agenda before us. If we can have a recommendation to receive the agenda. Thank you, Councillor Flores. Seconded by Councillor Thompson. All those in favor. Opposed and carried. The minutes from July 13th, 2026, regular meeting. And percent of means is presented. Thank you, Councillor Flores.

[0:38] Secondary Councilor Thompson, all those in favour, opposed, carried.

[0:43] Okay, moving down to the various Council Reports, yes, so go ahead, Councilor.

[1:08] All right, moving down to Reports, let's start with Councilor Stoodley.

[1:14] I did attend the meeting of the museum, everything seems to be plucking along.

[1:19] I'll send minutes when I get the minutes.

[1:23] Councilor Mark?

[1:26] No official report, just busy, busy summer.

[1:30] Thank you, Councillor Crogh.

[1:33] Okay, I've done mine that.

[1:35] All right.

[1:37] I have nothing to report.

[1:39] Okay.

[1:40] Councilor Leflier.

[1:47] Good morning.

[1:49] On July 17th, along with members of Council, I attended the ribbon-cutting for the end of

[1:54] the flood mitigation project and the luncheon at Gallery 2.

[1:57] Congratulations to everyone in Joel, well, to a job well done.

[2:01] and I imagine Mayor Baker will speak more to this.

[2:05] Ms. Counsel Liaison attended the Grand Forks Trail Society meeting on July 21st.

[2:10] The trails manager and its four summer students have done an incredible job maintaining our trails this summer,

[2:16] and they've replaced five picnic tables.

[2:20] Keep up the great work. On July 23rd, I attended the Grand Forks Library Board meeting.

[2:26] We have a fairly new board that has some great ideas.

[2:28] The Friends of Library have recently purchased two elephant chairs.

[2:33] Now these are chairs that look like elephants in their children's section.

[2:38] If you are interested in helping the library name the two chairs, send them your suggestions.

[2:44] Gallery 2 had a summer social fundraiser on July 25th.

[2:49] We had tickets, but unfortunately I was ill and wasn't unable to go.

[2:52] So we gave the tickets that we wanted to draw the gallery using a GM to the airbaker.

[2:59] From the photos and comments that I saw posted on Facebook, it looked like everyone was having a wonderful day.

[3:10] We went down to say hi.

[3:24] The wind just went crazy, and so we held to hold them down to tell them to be safe.

[4:35] Congratulations to the GFI board for not one, but two great baseball events this summer.

[4:42] Thursday, August 20th, the City of Grand Forks will be hosting a prospective candidates information session

[4:49] and council chambers at 6 p.m. The session will be an opportunity to ask questions of the

[4:54] chief electoral elections officer, CD of Grand Forks, and retiring council members. Anyone

[5:02] running for office in the 2026 general municipal election is invited to attend. I have made

[5:09] the difficult decision not to run in the upcoming election. For a number of reasons, I do not have

[5:14] of the same energy to give to this office

[5:17] as I have during the past four years

[5:19] and have decided to retire.

[5:21] I will be attending the meeting on the 20th,

[5:23] along with Councillor Thompson.

[5:25] I have thoroughly enjoyed working as council liaison

[5:28] to my four groups, the Grand Forks Community Trail Society,

[5:32] the Grand Forks and District Public Library,

[5:35] the Grand Forks and District Rec Commission,

[5:37] and the Grand Forks Senior Society.

[5:39] I have greatly appreciated those that have supported me

[5:42] during this term.

[5:43] Thank you.

[5:44] Thank you, Councillor Thompson.

[5:48] Thank you, Your Worship. I was away most of the month of July.

[5:57] My husband and I were in coloners. He was undergoing radiation treatment for prostate

[6:02] cancer. We stayed at the rotary lodge and I cannot stay enough wonderful things about that facility.

[6:13] Brian stayed cost him nothing and it cost me $54.60 a day for three meals with the word delicious.

[6:25] So I was not able to attend any of the events that all of council participated in.

[6:33] And the smoke has precluded me from attending other events that have been going on because

[6:43] of my own health issues.

[6:46] So I regret that I wasn't able to participate in these things, but I think all those members

[6:53] of Council who did.

[6:56] Thank you, Councilor Thompson.

[6:57] Councilor Zelinski.

[6:58] Okay.

[7:01] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[7:03] I don't know if this is the right time to see what I'm going to say, but I'll go anyway.

[7:13] We've, I'd like to take a moment, just to reflect on where grandfather says come not only

[7:20] in the last four years, but for the longest time, I've got two ladies to the left of me that

[7:26] to have indicated that they're not running further.

[7:31] And I've just like some acknowledgment

[7:33] of we realize that we always stand

[7:36] on the shoulders of the other ones before us.

[7:39] And we take great pride in continuing that run.

[7:45] And we need to appreciate all those people that put in the time

[7:51] I'm an effort to get Grand Forks where it is today.

[7:56] Recently in the last few months, we lost one of our long-term employees, Vinny Federico.

[8:04] 37 years with the city has made sure that things worked so that we could enjoy them.

[8:13] And there are others like that out there, but definitely with Vinny's passing and the lady's

[8:19] retiring.

[8:20] I just want to take this moment to say thanks to everyone that went before us.

[8:24] You've given us a good thing to work with and hopefully we don't mess it up on you.

[8:28] Thanks.

[8:30] Thank you, Councillor Neill. I'll say ditto to those conversations.

[8:37] Most of the discussion has taken, thank you, Councillor Loffler, for your good document there

[8:44] because that speaks basically to everything that we've done this summer.

[8:50] I will say, though, much appreciation to staff and the councillors that showed up for our ribbon cutting including the youngest member of our community, Dr. Councillor Marks, little one who, as we're walking along the dike area, talking to the minister, I said, you know, here we've done this flood protection and said, that's the reason why right there in carrying in his arms are the reasons we do what we do.

[9:18] and so there's my appreciation everyone, the minister's staff could not say enough good things about our staff.

[9:27] In fact, I think she would have looked at hiring a couple of them if I'd given her the opportunity to do so because she was so, she was so, she was so very impressed with the, with the, with their staff.

[9:39] So, again, thank you very much for all that has done.

[9:43] Some are not over yet.

[9:44] We have a couple of weeks left before we head into the fall.

[9:46] So get out and enjoy when the air is good.

[9:51] All the things that Grand Forks has to offer

[9:54] and to echo Councillor Zelinski's comments

[9:58] that we build on the shoulders of those

[10:03] that are left behind and have gone on.

[10:06] and with some of us are shorter than others, some are taller than others, but we stand there

[10:12] and absolutely this council has much to be thankful for, and not to be ashamed of

[10:21] for what we've been able to accomplish as we head into the fall.

[10:25] So anyways, that's my report for today, so thank you.

[10:30] Okay, then everybody's done.

[10:32] Okay, so can I get a motion to receive the reports, please?

[10:36] Thank you, Councillor Flaur, seconded by Councillor Mark.

[10:38] All those in favour?

[10:40] Opposed and carried.

[10:42] All right, moving along, a recommendation for staff for decisions.

[10:48] The appointment of orders for 2022-20-20 fiscal year's financial services.

[10:54] The recommendation is that Councillor approves, sorry, Councillor points.

[10:58] lights, BDQ Canada LLP as the city's auditors for 26, 27, and 28 fiscal year pursuant to section

[11:07] 169 of the community charter, and that the council authorize staff to enter into an agreement

[11:13] with BDO, Canada LLP for audit services for the 26, 27, 28 fiscal years.

[11:22] move. Thank you, Council Member Flores. Seconded by Councillor Mark. Any questions? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed? Carried.

[11:33] The application number two, the application for the event-driven liquor primary license for Grand Forks Board of Bruins, Hockey Club LTD, Jack Gaudert's Memorial Arena located at 2028 Central Avenue.

[11:45] The recommendation is that council approves the comments made in this report with numbers

[11:54] updated from the public feedback session to be sent to the LCRB regarding the application

[12:01] for the event-driven liquor primary license for Grand Forks Board of Bruins, hockey club

[12:07] the VLTD. Jack Gawdard Arena, Moral Arena located at 2020 Central Avenue.

[12:14] Motion to move, please.

[12:16] Thank you, Councillor Fler. Seconded by Councillor Mark.

[12:19] Any questions? Seeing none, all those in favor? Opposed and carried.

[12:24] Thank you. Development variance permit, DVP 20603 for 23, sorry, thank you, Councillor.

[12:36] for, sorry, for 2345 68th Avenue, curb gutter development, curb gutter development and planning.

[12:46] The recommendation is that council does not approve, development variance permit BDP,

[12:52] 2603 for the property located at 2345 68th Avenue, do you have a motion comment, okay?

[13:00] Let's put on the floor and then we'll talk about so.

[13:02] Just a comment that Councillor Lee has put on the floor and then we'll talk.

[13:07] Well, that's a question.

[13:08] So the motion is, thank you Councillor, you move it.

[13:12] Thank you.

[13:13] Seconded.

[13:14] Thank you Councillor Loeffler.

[13:15] Now a question.

[13:16] Let's go ahead Councillor Loeffler.

[13:23] We put bylaws in place for community standards for development.

[13:31] I am not in favor of removing the curve and cutter.

[13:39] This was something that was put in for new developments, for consistency, and I don't

[13:48] agree that maybe setting precedence, I'm not going to argue that issue, but it is to

[13:54] the aesthetics of the neighborhood to have curve and cutter.

[13:58] I live in an area that doesn't.

[14:00] I can tell you that the edge does get worn down and all the weeds from the road start

[14:07] growing up into my property, so I will not be voting in favor of any

[14:16] further go ahead

[14:18] to Councillor Thompson.

[14:21] I appreciate what Councillor LaFlure has said, excuse me, however, I do want to see

[14:32] this development move forward, that I know that management has recommended that it

[14:43] be approved but from what I'm hearing from the Engineers Report and I would ask staff

[14:54] to comment on that, as to...

[15:00] If they disagree with the engineer's report with respect to the compact gravel of the soil. Go ahead. So through your worship in regards to the gravel as opposed to the curb and gutter on this idea. I mean, our third party engineers looked at it. The engineer stamped it. It will work. It will shed water. It will go into the soil. Staff's recommendation at this time is just based

[15:29] based on the existing bylaws and that technical evaluation, but it will work.

[15:35] Engineers signed off on it.

[15:36] It will function as designed.

[15:42] Further questions, Greg?

[15:43] Councillor Mark.

[15:46] I just have a thought, I guess, I'll share with the rest of the council.

[15:51] Myself, I prefer the turbine gutter system.

[15:54] It's worked well for quite a long time for subdivisions.

[15:59] Unfortunately, we live in a world where we're happy to think of different solutions all

[16:04] the time.

[16:05] I think this is a solution that doesn't necessarily take away functionality.

[16:12] And given the drainage system proposed, the removal of the carbon gutter would actually

[16:16] be a benefit and evenly distributed in the water.

[16:21] And with some things that we're trying, it's a relatively low exposure on this one where

[16:29] we're talking, I think he said about $150,000 if we were to try and put it in the next

[16:35] time we have to repave the road. And I know it's going to cost more in the future but

[16:40] we'll have, hopefully, 20 additional tax folios to help with that.

[16:49] Councillor Zalinski?

[16:52] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Through you to staff, there's a comment in the

[17:01] in the report. Maybe I'll just read it out. And it has to do with the development on the

[17:07] north side on the 22nd. It said that this time the modified cross-section was considered

[17:12] acceptable as it closely reflected the roadway standard previously approved by Council.

[17:18] For the subdivision, you needly north on 22nd Street and which established precedent for a similar

[17:25] roadway configuration. Yet I hear the proponent tell me no single subdivision will set a precedent

[17:35] as opposed to the next one.

[17:39] In the short answer to that is I believe the applicant and I don't

[17:43] want to put words into their mouth was talking about a legal precedent that you have to vary the

[17:49] curb and gutter in the future. I think he was referring to whereas in the report we're talking about

[17:53] So that type of storm system being accepted by the city as it holds the water on the property and is acceptable because there isn't a community storm system.

[18:06] Okay, through you, Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.

[18:13] So the one on 22nd has culverts under the driveway, this one isn't, so I don't see how it could be the same system, I guess.

[18:23] So I'm going to take a verbatim of what I'm reading here is the 22nd Street established

[18:29] precedent for roadway configuration, yet when I go to 22nd Street, it's a square curb.

[18:36] It's not a rollover curb.

[18:38] So to me, that's a degradation on their standards again.

[18:44] So I don't know whether it's precedent or not, I guess, so it's confusing me.

[18:50] I guess either way, not my standard,

[18:53] Bryce in place, the other subdivisions are my standard.

[18:57] I've been to council before on trying to change that in the past.

[19:02] So, yeah, that's where I'm safe.

[19:04] Thanks.

[19:05] Okay.

[19:08] A question to staff.

[19:10] So, if I understand the difficulty is the lifespan of the asphalt.

[19:18] So, we're talking 25 years.

[19:23] So through your worship and that's something that I have indicated in the past is,

[19:27] we're relying on that third party engineering, right?

[19:31] And that's that technical review.

[19:32] And I've indicated in the report that Council has a lot of different things that they need to look at.

[19:36] But on a purely technical basis, our engineers indicated it won't last so long.

[19:41] Does that mean 25 years, 45 years?

[19:43] I mean, we have some subdivisions that are 50 years.

[19:46] I can't necessarily give you an exact number of how long it's going to last.

[19:49] depends on the traffic, it depends on the crowd, it depends on all these things.

[19:54] Okay.

[19:57] Councilor Kraug, do you have any comments before I call you?

[20:00] Okay. All right. I'll go ahead. Go ahead, Councillor.

[20:04] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just in case there's not an understanding that once the city takes over

[20:11] that roadway, we're responsible for the drainage off that roadway. So we have to control our

[20:17] our drainage.

[20:21] No curb and gutter without managing what's coming off there. My

[20:26] envision is with what we're told, low global warming, more downpourts, bigger

[20:31] pools of water and you throw that on top of frozen ground. We could have an

[20:37] issue and I've been involved in one in the city already where our runoff off

[20:44] the road went into a person's house and there were damage claims because it was our run-off.

[20:52] So, technical reasons for the curb, operational reasons for the curb.

[20:58] I think we'd be doing a disservice by accepting something without them.

[21:04] Thank you. Councillor Mark.

[21:08] I guess Councillor Zalinski, I had also considered that we do have four seasons here, although

[21:16] sometimes it seems like we don't get a winter anymore talking about the concern with

[21:20] the frozen ground. I could see that more if it was connecting to a stormwater system.

[21:28] Given that we're not currently connecting to one anyways, once those silker pits are

[21:33] full in winter or a frozen time of year. Any water we do have is going to end up excess

[21:42] anyways. The curb and gutter if anything I can see it channeling it and then you have

[21:48] more issues with erosion somewhere else wherever that channeling lets out. Whereas the removal

[21:53] of the curb and gutter hopefully will allow it to go off to the side. I don't know if these

[22:01] If the soils will be deep enough or we'll have the capacity to fully handle that, but that was just my thinking on it.

[22:10] Councillor Crock?

[22:13] Yeah, couple of things.

[22:18] I like what

[22:24] we had to really propose it if there weren't

[22:29] to over we

[22:33] would have these kids. I don't remember, but we don't have people with

[22:42] global warming.

[22:52] Yeah, it's

[22:58] pretty better. We had a freeze. It looked back different

[23:12] Councillor Thompson draw

[23:16] this to an end here.

[23:18] If council were to allow this development to proceed as being proposed by Mr. Barbeum.

[23:28] And at some future time it was determined that sidewalks and crewming gather whatever needed

[23:37] to be done because the property owners in that development area were concerned. Could it not be

[23:45] done by a neighborhood improvement program tax and not be burdened on the rest of the city?

[23:56] Go ahead. So there are, I was going to confirm there are sidewalks in, we're not varying the

[24:02] requirement for sidewalks. You're correct in LAS, the local area service improvement

[24:06] And by law could be passed if the neighbors 50% or 51% of them agreed that this was the service they wanted.

[24:13] Okay, Councillor Zelensky?

[24:16] Yes, just a bit of rebuttal to my colleagues here.

[24:20] I would have liked you to talk to people in Bryson Place.

[24:26] The experience just that this summer with that big downfall that everyone had problems with.

[24:30] And that was just one and with Curbin gutter they're having issues controlling that.

[24:35] So, I'll leave that there.

[24:41] Come on a ditch.

[24:49] Okay, we're going to call the question.

[24:52] So, yeah, sorry, go ahead.

[24:55] Friendly amendment to the resolution.

[24:58] Can I take the do not out?

[25:01] I rather see a motion in the positive,

[25:06] so I would like the motion to say that we will approve the variance.

[25:11] Okay.

[25:11] Okay. So we will. Yeah. I know that wasn't so we'll have to ask.

[25:19] So I would suggest that the wording then be changed to that council deny if that.

[25:25] I mean,

[25:29] worship

[25:38] at the original, if the motion that's on the table right now is to deny it

[25:43] or not approve it, you can't amend it to say to approve it. You need to defeat that and pass

[25:48] That's a new resolution to approve it if that's what council

[25:53] councilor councilor can change the intent. Sorry councilor Crock. Yeah. I only made the. Okay.

[26:09] Okay. Okay. So.

[26:17] Okay.

[26:19] Councilor Crock. If that's what you're suggesting as opposed to voting on you can withdraw with the permission to second.

[26:24] Okay. Seconder withdraw.

[26:25] Does any support the withdrawal of the motion. Okay.

[26:29] All right. So a new motion.

[26:31] Councillor Zalinski.

[26:56] So the motion is to support, to approve their quest,

[27:10] that we are approving

[27:11] it. Right.

[27:20] Development, Viren's proof. Okay.

[27:25] Okay.

[27:29] That council approves development variance

[27:31] permits dbp 2603 for the property located 2345 68th Avenue okay move we have a

[27:40] seconder seconder council mark okay so that so this vote is to approve the

[27:48] development variance permit all those in favor oppose carried thank you okay

[27:59] Thank you.

[28:01] Thank you, Chuck.

[28:02] Hello.

[28:06] How's that?

[28:07] That was a square dance, maybe.

[28:11] Anyway, so moving on.

[28:13] So we have information items.

[28:15] We have the 2026.

[28:17] Oh right.

[28:18] Sorry.

[28:18] I was forget for.

[28:20] Sorry.

[28:21] I always forget.

[28:21] Four cows are stoodly.

[28:34] Sorry, cows are stood here.

[28:36] Forget about you all the time.

[28:38] So information item 2026.

[28:39] It takes quarterly to second financial report for

[28:44] information, go questions, go ahead,

[28:47] Councillor, oh, okay, it's just for information items,

[28:54] okay, received from motion to receive

[28:55] for information, seconded, Councillor Stanley. Okay, all those in favor? Opposed? Carried.

[29:08] You're trying to find it. It's received any of the financial services.

[29:13] Okay. Business license by-law number 21-26, that in the recommendation of the Council

[29:19] approves third reading of the business license by-law 21-26.

[29:25] Motion. Thank you, Councillor Thompson. Seconded by Councillor O'Flaher. Any questions?

[29:32] Councillor Stoodley. Yeah. I had somebody contact me about this.

[29:37] their concerns were just regarding garage sales, garage sales for yard sales. So right now the current

[29:45] by-loss is two times a year for maximum of two days. So you can do it two times a year, two days each.

[29:56] And they were thinking that that could be extended a little bit and looking at the current

[30:00] You're at sale board and stuff like that. Most people are doing it a little bit more. I looked at the City of

[30:05] Cologne, they're allowing four times per year. So I'm suggesting four times a year, and then up to three

[30:13] times that week. Just to bring it in line with our sort of four-day week, it seems more and more garage sales are

[30:19] doing Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So I'd just like to make those two suggestions to it.

[30:47] Yeah, so that's why I'm suggesting to go with Cologne as four. So you can have it four times a year.

[30:54] Three, three days.

[30:55] Any

[31:00] comments on that? I think that's it. That's accepted.

[31:06] We, well, I think we can just pass any information on to the two.

[31:12] This is the three reading. So you need to make the change now.

[31:16] Okay, um, and you can still give it three readings after you make the change if you want

[31:20] Okay

[31:22] So we're so we're okay second-hand motion for four.

[31:28] Yeah, yeah

[31:31] That's uh, I was looking at capital garage sales. Yeah, garage sales

[31:37] Up to 10 a year.

[31:41] Okay.

[31:45] Has anybody else had any comments on the on the

[31:52] I've heard absolutely nothing, crickets,

[32:01] I think maybe we'll hear more once it goes into effect.

[32:51] The Council amend the business license by law to adjust section 2.5, 2.5, 2, to extend the terms to three consecutive days and section 2.5.3 to allow four occasions per year and to give the amendment by law of third reading.

[33:11] We're going to move, you're happy with that?

[33:17] Yeah.

[33:22] 21, 26.

[33:33] Okay, so moved.

[33:34] Seconded.

[33:36] All those in favor?

[33:38] Opposed?

[33:39] Carried.

[33:42] Is that included in the third reading?

[33:44] Or do we need to do the third reading now then?

[33:46] Third reading.

[33:47] Okay, good.

[33:47] Okay.

[33:48] Oh yeah, ready to bond, man.

[33:49] Sorry.

[33:51] All right.

[33:52] Moving along.

[33:53] Any questions from the public immediate?

[33:57] Not the moment.

[34:00] Karen, what are we going to do when you're not sitting here?

[34:02] I'm telling you that, so it's just got good.

[34:05] No, that's good.

[34:09] OK, no questions?

[34:11] Anything from online?

[34:13] OK, so can I have a motion to go in camera please?

[34:24] Yeah, it's just for information.

[34:25] Move to information.

[34:27] OK, so.

[34:28] So...

Regular Meeting

Transcript