Choquette variance, tourism tax, councillors' pay: Nelson City Council, August 11, 2014
By Bill Metcalfe
The following is a summary of the regular meeting of Nelson City Council held on August 11, 2014.
Choquette Avenue
Council approved a development variance application from West Creek Developments regarding the proposed condominiums near the golf course. As a result, the first of the three planned buildings may be an average of 12.3 meters high rather than 12 meters. The application with detailed drawings is attached.
Tourism tax
Council approved the renewal of a 2% tax on hotel rooms in the region that has been in effect since 2009. The tax revenues support the operation of Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism.
Rate of pay and benefits for councillors
Council discussed a proposed change in the benefits they receive as council members. The sticking point was a reduction in an allowance for clothing and technology from $1000 per year to $1500 for the first year of service only. Because of this and some issues of wording in the document, it was sent back to staff for further work.The document is attached below.
Cities Fit for Children
Council discussed a call for proposals to host the Cities Fit for Children Summit in 2015. The biannual event is a project of the B.C. Healthy Communities Society. Council decided 2015 is too soon and that it would look into applying for the 2017 conference.
Financial stats
Council received the accounts payable list for July—a list of all cheques written and to whom and for how much—along with building permit stats for July. That document is attached below.
Minutes
Council received the June and July minutes for meetings of the Cultural Development Committee, the Nelson Housing Committee, and the Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership. That document is attached below.
Action Items
Council maintains a list of its priority actions with dates for completion. The updated version is attached.
