Progress
The Chilliwack
Friday
28
3
17
Chiefs
Afterlife
Fox Honour
Chiefs trade defenceman for forward depth.
Have you planned for your digital afterlife?
Corn maze salutes Terry Fox run.
Sports
News
Life
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • F R I D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 1 , 2 0 1 5
Estimate on pink salmon run slashed Jeff Nagel Black Press Fisher y managers have approved commercial fishing by seine boats for pink salmon despite estimates that the run is less than half what was anticipated. The Fraser River pink fishery got the green light Tuesday as the Pacific Salmon Commission pegged the run size at 6.2 million salmon, down from a forecast of 14.5 million. Conservationists had previously urged caution in fishing for pinks to avoid a bycatch of late-running sockeye entering the river at the same time. There was no commercial fishing for sockeye this summer after the run came back far below the expected 6.8 million. Officials at the salmon commission pared their estimates of the sockeye run size again Tuesday, cutting it from 2.4 to 2.1 million. Late summer run sockeye have been particularly poor, with the return about onesixth the number forecast. There’s no definitive explanation of why the actual returns have fallen short of predictions, but warm ocean temperatures over the past two years are thought to be one significant factor. “Now the bottom’s falling out of the pink run,” said Sto:lo fisheries adviser Ernie Crey. “So it’s a double whammy.” This summer’s drought and low stream levels have also raised concerns for the survival rate of returning salmon as they migrate upriver. The river temperature is now slightly cooler than normal – an improvement from earlier in the summer when the water was dangerously hot for salmon – but the volume of the Fraser near Hope is 17 per cent below normal.
Chilliwack RCMP Insp. Davy Lee fields questions during the first of two town hall meetings on Wednesday. The second town hall meeting is set for Sept. 17 at the Sardis Library. JENNIFER FEINBERG/ PROGRESS
Small but mighty town hall meeting Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The first of two town hall meetings hosted by Chilliwack city council Wednesday night saw just under 50 people showing up to broach timely topics. Speakers quizzed council on street parking, public safety, crime, and drug abuse. They asked what City of Chilliwack was doing about the homeless people who gather under the overpass, and a crime rate that may be on the rise. They wanted to know about city plans for asbestos abatement, the town dike and road markings for new developments. Regular city budget commentator Bryden Nelmes asked council if it planned to consider “asbestos abatement,” as a condition of future demolition permits, in the wake of a recent building demolished at Yale and Menzies found to contain asbestos after it came down.
“Yes, we absolutely are,” replied Mayor Sharon Gaetz, adding that staff would be looking into asbestos abatement, to see if it could be incorporated into the demolition permitting process. Nelmes also asked for an update on the plans for a new pump station at the Hope Slough, and was told by staff that the preliminary design process was about to begin. Coun. Jason Lum noted it was a
“great time” to talk about flood control and to remind everyone to tell their MPs how important flood protection is, especially since estimates point to losses of six to eight billion dollars in the event of a major flood. “We don’t want to see a situation like the one in Calgary,” said Lum. “We want to make sure we continue to offer a proactive response.” Speaker Wayne Froese asked if council was looking at a comprehen-
sive plan to make Chilliwack more “walkable” – one that would function to “get people out of their cars.” He suggested Chilliwack had room for improvement in that regard. Coun. Chuck Stam said there was such a plan, citing a 10-year plan focused on improving bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways, that is both “progressive and aggressive.” Stam said they’re working on plans to extend the Sardis Rail Trail for cyclists and pedestrians to cross over the highway as far north as Airport. “There’s more to come,” he underlined. Speaker Erin Lacey took the mic to say she was “a mom who loves Chilliwack,” who spends a lot of time at the Chilliwack library, and the downtown, and is growing concerned by homelessness and IV drug users. “There have been some random crazy things happening and
Councillors faced a variety of questions Wednesday evening.
Continued: COUNCIL/ p5
SAVE 20% NEW 2015 CADILLAC ATS
Retail 85¢ Box $1.00
PLUS PST
@.#
VISIT US AT
MertinGM.COM 45930 AIRPORT ROAD
DLN 8692
Lease for $33,800* at $346/mo.
56-5913
msrp $42,250
*See page 2 for details