COUNCIL BRIEFS
Budget adopted
A 0.83 per cent tax increase that will cost the average family $17.28 per year is the result of the 2017 town budget adopted by council Dec. 12.
The increase was reduced from its original estimate of 0.88 per cent thanks to a reassessed conservative growth estimate of 2.5 per cent from two per cent.
Total operations budget adjustments following budget deliberations last month resulted in an increase of $103,140, including additional funding for Handibus services, the Activettes, Cochrane and Area Victim Services, the community grants program and the public library.
Capital projects budget for next year is $18.5 million with highlights including a new dog park by Highway 22, north of Quigley Drive; detailed design for Horse Creek rail crossing; and additions to the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre including an elevator, martial arts centre and a climbing wall.
Spring budget adjustments will take place in May or June 2017.
Coun. Morgan Nagel was the only councillor who voted in opposition to the capital and operating budget, noting that he could not support any wage increases for town staff. The town increased staff wages 0.6 per cent and approved 2.13 per cent for the firefighters as per their collective.
For a full break-down of the budget, visit cochrane.ca.
RV Storage approved
The controversial application for site-specific RV storage at the Baptist Seminary passed third and final reading.
A public hearing held on the application saw an impressive turnout to the Nov. 28 council session with several speakers presenting both in support and against the application for the build of 400 parking stalls on the public service lands north of town.
Concerns expressed included increased traffic pressure concerns; possible obstruction of views; previous non-permitted business operations at the site; and commercial operations on public service lands.
Council unanimously voted in favour of the development saying there would be little to no increase in traffic because most RV owners would only retrieve their vehicles monthly or annually; that the facility would reduce traffic by not having people pull into town and park in their driveways; and that RV parking is a much-needed facility for Cochrane residents.
Community enhancement evaluations
Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services for the town, presented an update on how the recently adopted community enhancement matrix would become part of the process.
The matrix would be adopted through community enhancement evaluations that will be applied at the area structure plan and neighbourhood plan stages “to ensure high level policy.”
“Ultimately, the intent is we want better applications coming to the town … I think that’s what everyone here is trying to achieve,” said Hyndman.
Coun. Mary Lou Eckmeier said she would like to see some level of public consultation included in the process.
Public at large
Council appointed public at large members to the following committees, each to hold their respective positions for a term of Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2019.
Cochrane Planning Commission
• Patrick Grainger
Cochrane Library Board
• Pat Neil
• Sue Carpenter-Parnell
• Dawn Thome
• Ian McCulloch
Family & Community Support Services Board
• Lyle Balmer
• Germaine Biblow
• Alison Bush
• Jill Ransom
