Governing Cannabis Stores Council voted unanimously in favour of the parameters on cannabis retail stores, based on administration's recommendation to be prepared for the coming legalization of cannabis and how municipalities will deal with retail sales. The regulations include a setback requirement of 150-metres between cannabis retailers, as well as from any areas concentrated by minors - such as parks, schools and health care facilities, signage restrictions and a requirement for well-lit parking lots. This would restrict potential retailers to a handful of potentials, all located in the downtown core and not in residential communities. The setbacks are an increase from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Control-mandated minimum of 100 metres. The town will be hosting public engagement sessions to help inform changes to the town's smoking bylaw regarding public cannabis use. Calgary and Banff have both recently opted to ban public consumption of cannabis. Business Bylaw A 5-2 vote moved forward the new business bylaw to be adopted by the town at May 28 council, with Couns. Marni Fedeyko and Morgan Nagel voting in opposition. The bylaw failed to receive unanimous consent at the last council session, largely due to a disagreement among councillors on whether or not buskers or street entertainers should have to register with the town. While councillors opted to remove the busking licence fee of $75, they maintained that there could be a benefit in having buskers register with the town. Council appreciated much of the relaxations that were given to licensing and regulation for mobile food vendors. Nagel was adamant that he could not support a measure to regulate anyone who wishes to bust out a guitar and start strumming. Fedeyko also does not support regulation of buskers and had concerns over treating food trucks like other mobile vendors. Off-Site Levies Council gave final reading to the new off-site levy bylaw. Under the 2017 fall changes to the Municipal Government Act, off-site levies are increasing by 27 per cent. Charles Boechler of the BILD Calgary Region, presented to council an overview of the impacts of the increase to the builder industry, ahead of council's decision to grant their request to phase in the payment schedule change to 40/60 rather than 50/50 from when a development permit is granted to one year later. This schedule change would soften the increase for the development community. Changes to the MGA mean that off-site levies can now be used for a greater scope of projects - including all highway intersections, recreational centres, fire and RCMP stations. According to Boechler, the overall impact of the increase in offsite levies would translate to an average estimated increase on new homes by $3,500 to $4,000, although there are other market considerations to factor in when it comes down to sale prices. Air Quality Members of the Calgary Region Airshed Zone (CRAZ) presented to council. Cochrane pays an annual membership fee, this year amounting to $2700, to belong to the non-profit that seeks to monitor and improve air quality in the region. It is one of 10 airsheds in Alberta. A portable air monitoring lab will monitor the air quality in Cochrane for two six-month periods to provide an in-depth report on trends and overall air quality. It is recommended that municipalities invest in continuous air quality monitoring stations once populations reach 20,000, however the investment comes with a hefty price tag. Airdrie, which just broke 60,000 people, recently invested in a continuous monitoring unit. Handibus Paul Siller of the Rocky View Regional Handibus Society was on deck to apprise council of the para-transit service, where more than 40 per cent of the fares are Cochranites. The handibus provides service to six municipalities in the Rocky View County region. Siller highlighted the non-profit's gratitude for the boost in funding of $21,187 out of the Cochrane budget this year, although this still does not keep pace with the per capita funding requirements of the organization - which receives no provincial funding. Coun. Tara McFadden, who is the first Cochrane councillor to take a seat at the handibus board table, highlighted several times throughout the evening how much value Cochrane is getting through the society – which she referred to as a "lean, mean transportation machine" that is "very practical, without a dime wasted." The discussion with council brought up future transitions as Cochrane gears up for a possible public transit system, and how synergies could be reached with the handibus service. The society has launched their 2018 capital fundraising campaign to add to the fleet. Learn more at rockyviewbus.ca. Public hearings A public hearing to re-designate lands in Willows West from commercial to residential has been established for June 25 in council chambers. A public hearing for the Greystone area structure plan has been established for June 18 at 7 p.m. The hearing does not take place on the same evening as a council session. The hearing may be held in a different room at the RancheHouse in order to accommodate a presumably high turnout. First reading was given to the Greystone area structure plan at May 28. Spring budget adjustments Council approved $304,860 in capital funding increases. The town's fibre project expenditures have increased by $75,600 to acquire a six-month term project manager. The River Heights reservoir expansion project, which a developer-funded $64,250 was granted. This reservoir needs to take place in order to accommodate total community build-out. The water automated compressed air backwash system, to better remove silt from the water system, increased in scope by $165,000. Funding for the project is 66 per cent from the water reserve and 34 per cent from offsite levies.
