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THE NEWS, Tuesday, October 11, 2011 •
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Town tax rate lowered thanks to garbage By NEIL HORNER NEWS REPORTER Qualicum Beach council last week voted to lower their proposed tax increase because of a cutback on garbage collection. In his report to council at
Corfield project okayed by city By AUREN RUVINSKY NEWS REPORTER Parksville city council issued a development permit for a 16 unit townhouse development at 222 Corfield Street. Several councillors agreed with the report from staff that said the city would like to see higher density that close to downtown, but the proposed development fits the current zoning and council had limited power since it didn’t require rezoning application or an official community plan amendment. “The ability to regulate density is beyond the scope and authority of the development permit application,” the report states. Coun. Sue Powell asked if the parking area could be made of permeable material to absorb the rain. SEE
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Monday night’s meeting, financial administrator John Marsh said the proposed tax increase includes 2.5 per cent for inflation, along with one per cent for pavement overlay work needed for local roads. However, because the town changed their garbage collection
service from once a week to once every two, the town has saved an estimated $65,000 per year, which works out to one per cent of the tax roll. “If the town wants to make that adjustment now, that could reduce the tax increase from 3.5 per cent
to 2.5 per cent,” he said. “This is a service reduction, so it’s appropriate to take it off.” Council agreed, voting to give third reading to the amended tax rate bylaw. news@pqbnews.com
Don’t feed the deer
City of Parksville exploring a ban on feeding deer as their numbers grow By AUREN RUVINSKY NEWS REPORTER Parksville is looking into banning feeding deer and bylaw options that could allow culling if deemed necessary. Councillor Sue Powell introduced the motion to ask staff to “review and provide options for council’s consideration,” in light of the high number of deer in the urban area and the possible negative conflicts and effects. “The less interaction between humans and wildlife the better, whether it’s with your bumper or feeding them,” said conservation officer Stewart Bates. He said they have received 25 complaints about deer in Parksville since April 1, ranging from accidents to “there’s a deer in my yard,” which is about the same as the last few years. While urban deer are never that afraid of humans, not having a lot of predators to worry about, he points out that they are naturally afraid of us and the best thing to do is scare them away, make your yard unappealing to them, and definitely never feed them. Powell’s motion says, “feeding of deer facilitates habituation, which is the loss of the natural fear of humans that wild deer typically have ... (and) feeding of
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News Briefs SLOW DOWN PARKSVILLE —Police remind drivers to take it easy, after a car at around 9 a.m. on Fri., on Oct. 7 lost control and hit the ditch near Cameron Lake on Highway 4. The 18-year-old driver from Nanaimo was not injured. — Oceanside RCMP
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Deer in Parksville — like this one — often look like tame, domestic pets, but experts remind PQ NEWS FILE PHOTO people they are wild animals that shouldn’t be encouraged. deer can often result in real harm to both individuals and populations,” including disease transmission. Bates points out that even though urban deer often look tame, they are wild
animals that, among other issues can be aggressive with people and dogs when protecting their young and can draw in cougars to prey on them. He said anti-feeding by-
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laws, like Nanaimo has, can be a useful step in reducing human-deer conflicts. Council supported the motion and staff will now look into the options. writer@pqbnews.com
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NANOOSE BAY — Fall has been called the reading season and the Nanoose Library has gathered a fine harvest of titles for their inaugural fall book sale, slated for Sat., Oct. 15. The move, says librarian Jill Davies, comes hard on the heels of the roaring success of the library’s giant book sale earlier this year. The event will feature literally hundreds of titles, most of which will be available for as little as a dollar. Doors open at 9 a.m. and they stay that way until 3 p.m. For more information, call the Nanoose Library Centre at 250468-5320. This Friends of Nanoose Library event, Davies said, will be followed on Oct. 23 by the library’s annual general meet— Submitted ing.
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