Thirty people were at the City of Terrace’s first council meeting of the new year. Council tackled a packed agenda, which included grant presentations, bylaw variances, and business license approvals.
Below is a summary of some key discussions:
Terrace Community Forest presentations
Nine organizations gave brief updates to council on some of the work they’ve done using grants allocated by Terrace Community Forests in 2018. Among them were the Terrace Off Roading Association, the Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club, Shames Mountain Co-op, Search and Rescue, and Skeena Valley Golf Club. The foundation gave more than $52,000 in grants for 2018.
READ MORE: New bike loop won’t be open to public until Spring 2019
Terrace Community Foundation plans for growth
The Terrace Community Foundation asked council for a larger investment into the organization’s endowment fund and more money for administrative costs. The requests are part of TCF’s goal of increasing the endowment fund from $565,000 to $1 million over the next 5 years. The foundation awarded $81,000 in grants to 14 recipients in 2018.
READ MORE: Terrace Community Foundation starts giving grants formerly done by City of Terrace
CMTN plans for new building
Coast Mountain College asked the City of Terrace for their support in applying to the Northern Development Initiative Trust for up to $250,000. If approved, the money would be used to build a new Community Health & Wellness Centre at the Terrace campus. The college has completed the foundation and expects the new centre to open by early summer. The total cost for the project is estimated to be $1.2 million.
Cannabis store license approved
The City of Terrace approved BC Cannabis’ application to open a store in the northwest corner of the Skeena Mall. No residents provided comment on the public consultation, and while RCMP vocalized concerns over higher traffic on Eby St., city staff did not believe it would cause significant issues. The city could see its first BC Cannabis location open by spring of next year.
READ MORE: Sparse public response on Terrace’s first cannabis store
Increase to city wages proposed
Going against a change in federal taxation of remuneration for elected officials, the city agreed to keep their remuneration pay tied to the Canadian consumer price index and adjusted annually.
Previously city officials received one-third of remuneration tax-free to offset some expenses as part of their job. In 2017, the federal government announced this tax-free portion would end in 2019.
If remuneration is not adjusted, city officials would receive a pay cut, says city corporate administrator Alisa Thompson. She recommended a 13 per cent increase to council wages, meaning a one per cent increase in the mayor’s pay and $1,124 more per year in take-home pay for councillors.
Terrace Clean Team announced
An update to the safe needle task force’s last meeting was announced. The group has developed a Clean Team and is expected to be out and working by the end of March to address increase reports of drug paraphernalia in the city. The group will be funded through various grants and employ former and current drug users to dispose of needles, advocate harm reduction strategies and safe needle disposal practices.
READ MORE: City’s safe needle task force moves ahead with Clean Team initiative, grant applications
Zoning variances approved
Council approved two zoning amendments Monday night. The first would allow Global DeWatering Ltd. to build an office park space within the Skeena Industrial Development Park.
The second would allow single detached family homes to be built inside N.C. Properties Inc.’s proposed 45-unit subdivision at 4645 Graham Ave. on the southern edge of Terrace.
READ MORE: Variance permits brings developer closer to 45-home subdivision
brittany@terracestandard.com
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