NEWS
Two separate fires force occupants to evacuate No one was injured in two recent separate fires that required evacuating a commercial building and a apartment. On Feb. 7, the fire alarm went off in a commercial building located in the 1000 block of Shoppers Row. As the occupants were evacuating the building, they called 911 to report that heavy black smoke was coming out of a vent at the rear of the building. Fire crews quickly determined a fire was burning in the restaurant kitchen, and firefighters extinguished the cooking oil fire using dry chemical extinguishers. “The fire protection system installed in the kitchen did its job by limiting the spread of fire until fire crews arrived,” said Fire Chief Ian Baikie. “The system also automatically alerted people in the building by activating the fire alarm.” On Monday, fire crews responded to an alarm in an apartment located in the 300 block of Dogwood Street. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze located in the bedroom of a third-storey apartment.. “Firefighters assisted the lone occupant to safety outside the apartment,” says Chief Baikie. “She was not injured, however, emergency social services resources were called in to provide temporary housing for the woman and her husband.” Fire investigators have determined that the cause of both fires was accidental. “The occupants of both buildings are credited with evacuating the premises when fire alarm sounded,” Baikie added.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR |
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The ‘realities’ of a long-time addict and thief PAUL RUDAN CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
Confessing to two more robberies won’t cost Richard Butland more jail time. The 44-year-old man is currently serving a fouryear prison sentence for a December 2011 robbery in Nanaimo. Two months earlier, Butland pulled off a pair of robberies in Campbell River. On the afternoon of Oct. 14, 2011, Butland donned a toque and concealed his face as he walked into the downtown Scotia Bank and announced, “This is a bank robbery. Everyone down.” As Butland fled with the loot, it contained a concealed dye pack which went off and stained the cash just outside the bank. But Butland kept going, hopped into a stolen car and
sped away from the scene. The vehicle was later found by Mounties by 9th Avenue and Thulin Street. Ag ain, Butland had escaped, but officers did find discarded clothing which matched the description of the garments worn by the bank robber. It also contained DNA evidence which came back as a match for Butland. But getting the DNA results didn’t happen within a day like it does on the CSI shows. In fact, it took several months. Police were still looking for a suspect when Butland committed his second robbery in two days. Once again, Butland disguised his face and wore a hat as he entered People’s Drug Mart in Willow Point, demanded money and escaped with $250.
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THEY SAID IT: “He doesn’t want this portayed as a sob story, just the reality of his life” – Defence lawyer
Later that day, police were checking a suspicious vehicle when beige clothing and Tilly hat, just like the robber wore, were found inside. A hair found on the headband of the hat was sent for DNA analysis and, again, came back months later as match for Butland. Butland managed to get out of Campbell River, but was arrested two months later following the Nanaimo robbery.
COMMUNITY UPDATE FEBRUARY 15 2013
For that crime, Butland was sentenced to four years prison. Then, last July, after the DNA evidence came back, Butland was charged with the Campbell River robberies. O n Fe b. 7 , B u t l a n d appeared by video in Campbell River provincial court to enter guilty pleas to the two robberies. In exchange for the pleas, the Crown dropped charges of possession of stolen property, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop at an accident and two counts of disguising his face to commit and offence. In a joint submission to Judge Eldon Iverson, the Crown and the defence agreed a four-year jail term, to run concurrently with his prison sentence, would be adequate, and the judge 301 St. Ann’s Road, Campbell River, BC V9W 4C7 Telephone: 250-286-5700 info@campbellriver.ca www.campbellriver.ca Like us on Facebook @ City of Campbell River
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agreed. The court heard that most of Butland’s problems are connected to his heroin addiction which started in his early 30s. The drug life led to lengthy periods of incarceration. Butland appeared to be doing well after moving to Campbell River and finding a good job in construction. However, his fragile world fell apart when a security check came back revealing his lengthy criminal record. As a result, he lost the job, started living in homeless shelters, got back into drugs which led to the robberies. “He doesn’t want this portrayed as a sob story, just the reality of his life,” said Butland’s lawyer. Butland has 34 months remaining on his prison sentence.
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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NOTICE FOR PROPOSAL TO RE-ESTABLISH WILLOW POINT BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing regarding the following will be held in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 301 St. Ann’s Road in Campbell River, B.C. at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.
DEADLINE FOR RESPONSES EXTENDED TO MARCH 25, 2013 Notice is hereby given that the City of Campbell River, in cooperation with the Willow Point
Business Improvement Area Association (WPBIA), is proposing to re-establish the Willow CITY CURRENTS Point Business Improvement Area for a 5 year term.
Proposal for Zoning Bylaw 3250 Text Amendment: That the City of Campbell River is considering a text amendment to Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006 to define and add “Pet Services” to the Commercial Two (C-2), Commercial Four (C-4) and the Industrial One (I-1) zone. Bylaw No: 3497, 2012.
Over the past 5 years the owners of Class 6 (Business/Other) property lying within 6X9 the Willow Point Business Improvement Area (WPBIA) have paid a “local service tax”.
The tax is collected by the City of Campbell River to be used by the WPBIA to operate a “business promotional scheme”. The funds raised through the local service tax have enabled the WPBIA to promote Willow Point through marketing and beautification projects. The boundaries of the WPBIA are defined on the following map. In order for the WPBIA to continue operating, City Council must adopt a new bylaw which would re-establish the WPBIA for 5 years. The Association has asked that the bylaw be processed as a “Council initiative” under the authority of the Community Charter – Part 7, Division 5. Under the “Council initiative” method, Council may, by bylaw, proceed with the renewal of the WPBIA unless at least 50% of the owners of the parcels that would be subject to the local service tax sign a petition against, and the persons signing are the owners of parcels that in total represent at least 50% of the assessed value of land and improvements that would be subject to the local service tax. WPBIA’s proposed budget is: $17,840 in 2013, $18,732 in 2014, $19,668 in 2015, $20,651 in 2016 and $21,685 in 2017, with increases of 5% per year over the next 4 years. In order to raise the funds requested by the WPBIA for 2013, owners of Class 6 property lying within the WPBIA would be required to pay a local service tax at a rate of approximately $1.76 per $1,000 of assessed value of the improvements (buildings) on their property. Owners of Class 6 property located within the WPBIA boundary, that are opposed to the renewal of the WPBIA, must notify the City in writing no later than March 25, 2013 (extended deadline). Information relating to the renewal of the Willow Point Business Improvement Area, including copies of the relevant legislation, is available for inspection during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday at Campbell River City Hall, 301 St. Ann’s Road. Information can also be obtained by e-mailing tracy.bate@ campbellriver.ca, or by calling 250-286-5705. For more information on the WPBIA’s business promotional scheme please contact WPBIA President, Sandra Allen at (250) 923-3121. T. Bate, Deputy City Clerk
CITY CURRENTS
Contact: Land Use Services Department at 250-286-5726.
A copy of this proposal may be inspected at the City Hall, Land Use Services Department on any regular business day between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday inclusive except Statutory Holidays, from February 8, 2013 to February 19, 2013. All persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaw will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to present written submissions respecting matters contained in the Bylaw that is the subject of this hearing. Please note that legal considerations prevent Council from receiving any representations or submissions after the close of the Public Hearing. A speakers list will be available for persons wishing to speak at the Public Hearing. You may register in advance by calling 250-2865700 or at the Public Hearing. Chris Osborne, MRTPI Planner
NOTICE OF REVITALIZATION TAX EXEMPTION Pursuant to section 227 of the Community Charter, Council for the City of Campbell River gives notice that Council proposes to adopt Downtown Revitalization Tax Exemption Amendment Bylaw No 3501, 2013. The reason for the bylaw is to expand the “Special Commercial Area” to promote greater revitalization of the downtown shown on the plan below (the “Special Commercial Area”) through the development and redevelopment of commercial buildings in City Centre Downtown (as defined in Downtown Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 3392, 2009). The amount of the tax exemption that would be provided for the development or redevelopment of commercial buildings within the Special Commercial Area is 100% of the municipal property tax as a result of the land value improvement as determined by the British Columbia Assessment Authority. The maximum term of a tax exemption within the Special Commercial Area is 5 years. Contact: Kevin Brooks, Senior Planner, City of Campbell River, Land Use Services Department at 250-286-5726.