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NATURE

Sea, land, river

PEOPLES

Community

 

 

 


For earlier materials see Table of Contents

July 30th

We See

Cruise ship – from sunny to foggy

Started off in glorious sunshine as clouds cleared off ‘on schedule’ for the Cruise Ship arrival

But later in afternoon fog rolls in and Ancient Mariners directions needed

 

And there was Music

The staging area was moved from last summer’s position to this location --- no, not to get farther away from Councillor Gordon Payne’s future penthouse – but (so I was told) more because someone decided that could use the hill as a natural viewing area – as these people on left looking down at stage --- but more people seem to choose to stand and look directly at stage – as below shot at same time

 

 

And the Mariner might have been pointing to the Museum as large crowd from cruise ship followed a young man carrying a sign about native culture there – and many went in too (below)

 

Left is the Band playing as passengers disembark

Community owes all those volunteers a thank you – here playing to almost no one --- but still with energy and ‘heart’

 

Rumex and ruins

I will document the sheep sorrel which is now going autumnal (foliage turning reddish as at left)

Arrow points to Highliner stairs that have been closed off – presumably to stop damage/ noise by those winos that hung out here to all hours of night

 

Tis the season for paving

City crews preparing for the pavers – here tearing up what ever was there before

 

 

 

So what is killing the Spruce trees?

See my earlier page where advanced stages shown

 

Near Civic center are some small spruce trees that appear to have the problem --- observing the needles etc I can see a small insect (presumably non-adult) which is associated with the needle damage (areas turning brown) as at yellow arrow

More later

 

 

 

 

 

I am also told ‘staff’ is sending out letters to potential users of the Revitalization Tax Exemption.

As I asked during public input session: how much is Council (read ‘residential taxpayers’) going to ‘give’? --- But of course TV viewers would not have heard these questions – see below

Revitalization Tax Exemptions

A reader who seems knowledgeable told me that before passing any exemption bylaw - permissive, special or revitalization - the council must give public notice of its estimate of how much tax revenue will be lost - and presumably shifted to other taxpayers. The council has met other notice requirements for revitalization exemptions, but not this general requirement. Is this an oversight - or is it because they don't know how much the exemptions will cost - due to inadequate analysis and discussion? – See below for technicalities

 

No Audio on Council meeting

 

What about a TV replay of meeting? Don’t they tape them?

Council: 26th public input;     27th overview;      28th Thorkelson concerns;

 

Several people have complained about this to me – one even went to City Hall to tell them during the Council meeting, but nothing could be done then --- he later asked rhetorically that didn’t ‘they’ test these things before air time? --- I replied that given the way Closed Meetings start well before ‘live to air’ meeting does, and last for hours (dinner included) – probably not possible to test until mikes re-activated

 

 

More later

From the Community Charter ---- (I suspect Council would argue they have met the requirements --- Never the less – how much the program is going to cost (capped at?) is a crucial /essential(?) detail ‘missing’ in Council’s presentation )

Notice of permissive tax exemptions

227  (1) A council must give notice of a proposed bylaw under this Division in accordance with section 94 [public notice].

 

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the notice under subsection (1) must ... (d) provide an estimate of the amount of taxes that would be imposed on the property if it were not exempt, for the year in which the proposed bylaw is to take effect and the following 2 years.

 

(3) In the case of a bylaw under section 226 (4) [revitalization program bylaw], the notice ... must include a general description of each of the following:

 

(a) the reasons for and the objectives of the program;

 

(b) how the proposed program is intended to accomplish the objectives;

 

(c) the kinds of property, or related activities or circumstances, that will be eligible for a tax exemption under the program;

 

(d) the extent, amounts and maximum terms of the tax exemptions that may be provided under the program.

 

 

 

 

Created by LG on 30/7/2010

Last updated on Friday, July 30, 2010