The Hope
Standard Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014
news@hopestandard.com
2 BRIDGE CAMPAIGN NOW UNDERWAY
Spuzzum First Nation is fighting to save the historic Alexandra Bridge
3 SEABIRD RECEIVES PRAISE FROM MP
Institution is a ‘pioneer’ in the region with its educational programs
Road paving
KERRIE-ANN SCHOENIT / THE STANDARD
Paving crews from Martens Asphalt worked on patching cracked areas along Wallace Street Tuesday morning. The company was hired to repair about 1,900 square metres of pavement on Third Avenue between Wallace and Commission streets, Wallace Street between Water and Sixth avenues, and Kawkawa Lake Road near Lakeview Crescent. Ross Blackwell, the district’s roads and drainage foreman, said these areas have had extensive temporary patching annually and the amount of work completed was limited due to budget constraints. Scheduling of paving this week was also based on availability of the contractors after taxes were collected. All work was completed by Wednesday morning, however residents can expect to still see some sidewalk construction on Wallace Street and Sixth Avenue.
10 HOPE DEFEATS
CANYON TEAM
Communities battled it out last week in a local World Cup soccer match
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Council size referendum not binding Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
Voters may have a say on the future size of council this fall, but the results of the upcoming referendum are not binding. Council unanimously voted in April to ask residents whether they are in favour of reducing the number of councillors from six to four during the Nov. 15 municipal election. According to section 83 of the Community Charter, a council may seek community opinion on a question that council believes affects the municipality, by voting or any other process the council considers appropriate. However, the results of a process under this section are not binding on the council. “With that said, the size of council
WATER CONSERVATION TIP
07/14H_DOH31
USE A BROOM, NOT A HOSE, TO CLEAN DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS
is established by letters patent or bylaw,” said Donna Bellingham, director of corporate services. “So as we move through the process with the bylaw, if at the end of the day council decides to leave council at six councillors they do not have to adopt the bylaw.” Despite personal opposition to cutting councillors, a council reduction bylaw was given two readings on Monday night. Mayor Susan Johnston and Coun. Gerry Dyble support getting feedback from the electorate, but believe it’s not wise to change the size of council given the population and economic development growth expected in the future. “Personally my feeling is that we’re sending a message out to the public, to the community and to the region that we’re taking a step backwards when we
want to be going forward,” said Dyble. Coun. Ron Smith and Coun. Donna Kropp also raised concerns about fair representation given the geographical size of the district. “The moment we reduce (council), we will be hamstrung to represent the community appropriately,” said Smith. “We need to be front and centre as this municipality grows and we are held more accountable by various levels of government.” In addition, Kropp questioned if a reduction in council size would be a cost savings measure in the long run. Currently, councillors earn $8,000 a year. “I’m not sure what the benefit would really be,” she said. “When people have more work to do, do they do it more efficiently, especially if they have a fulltime job for example? Could they go
outside of their work, spread themselves a lot thinner and do a lot for the community, but maybe not as well as they could if there was more of them to do it? I’m concerned about that.” Based on Hope’s population of 6,185, the current number of councillors is in line with comparable municipalities. For example, Merritt (6,998), Kimberley (6,139) and Smithers (5,217) all have six councillors while smaller communities like Gibsons (4,182), Kent (4,738), and Metchosin (4,795) have four. Council will give third reading to the bylaw on Sept. 8 and pass a resolution to establish the question on November’s ballot. Following the municipal election on Nov. 15, the newly elected council will consider adoption of the bylaw. Any change would take effect for 2018 municipal election.
STAGE TWO
WATERING RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT As per District of Hope Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1271, 2009. Watering is permitted on alternate odd or even calendar days based on civic addresses during the hours of 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. until September 30, 2014. Hand watering is still permitted on any day of the week. Any concerns should be directed to Mr. Vince Coles, Utilities Foreman, at 604-869-2333.