Council passed an amendment to its smoking bylaw that set a fine scale for smoking offences during its Dec. 5 regular meeting.
The bylaw prohibits smoking within five metres of all public entrances in the city. Offenders may be fined between $50 for a first offence against the bylaw and up to $500 for a fourth offence and beyond.
Coun. Ken Pawlachuk suggested during the Dec. 5 committee of the whole meeting that the City create and install signs informing people of the bylaw on Main Street.
“People don’t know the rules that are standing on Main Street,” said Pawlachuk.
“A lot of the people on Main Street, they don’t read The Reminder, they don’t listen to the radio in a lot of cases, so how do we get [the information out]?”
Coun. Colleen McKee asked if the City already has signs for other bylaws. Coun. Tim Babcock said the City has had signs for bylaws prohibiting skateboarding in certain areas and encouraging pet owners to pick up after their pets.
Council discussed what the signs should include and where and how they should be displayed. The item was put on the agenda for an engineering services discussion.
The amendment passed second and third readings unanimously during the regular meeting. Councillors Bill Hanson and Karen MacKinnon were not in attendance.
Landfill contracts
Two contracts between the Flin Flon And District Environment Council and the City of Flin Flon for the operation of the landfill will increase in cost by three per cent in 2018.
The increase is the first since 2014, and is a result of an increase in wages combined with a decrease in population.
“Our wages have gone up in the last four years without any increase [in the contract], so this was the year that needed to happen,” said Deb Odegaard, administrator for the Flin Flon Recycling Centre.
“The other thing that’s a reality is right now our recycling support through the municipalities is calculated per capita, and there has been no increase in that since 2015. There’s a reduced population base in that formula, and we’re losing money from that place, so we have to make it up somewhere else.”
The general landfill contract will increase from $62,830 to $64,715, while the gate attendant contract will increase from $51,860 to $53,410.
Coun. Colleen McKee, who put forth the resolution to approve the increase noted, “It’s not huge dollars, and I think it’s a very valuable service.”
Recreation fees
The 2018 parks and recreation fee schedule will see a four per cent increase over 2017.
The increase, which is a result of an increase in the costs of labour, utilities and the overall cost of running the department, applies to City-run programs and infrastructure, including the aqua centre, ball diamonds, Rotary Wheel, and the R.H. Channing Auditorium. Camp Whitney and the tourist bureau are the only two facilities that did not see an increase in fees over last year.
The 2017-2018 Whitney Forum fee schedule was reviewed separately, and will see no changes from the previous year’s schedule. Council voted to approve the schedule during its regular meeting on Dec. 5.
TV Shoot
Council voted to spend $3,500 to have an episode of The Dimestore Fishermen filmed in the Flin Flon area.
Coun. Colleen McKee said the prospect of the shoot is exciting.
“I think this is a really good opportunity … and a real effective way for us to promote our community and our area,” said McKee.
Mayor Cal Huntley added there would be an opportunity for local participation during the
filming process.
Property work
Council passed an amendment to By-Law 10/77, clarifying that property owners are responsible for work done by City crews or with City equipment for work done on their property, up to the property line.
The amendment passed unanimously during the regular meeting on Dec. 5. Councillors Bill Hanson and Karen MacKinnon were not in attendance.
Speed trailer
An amendment to the City’s traffic and parking bylaw that would allow the Citizens on Patrol Program’s (COPP) speed reader trailer to be parked on local streets received first reading on Dec. 5
The amendment to By-Law 5/2003 makes a provision that the COPP trailer be allowed to stand on local streets and highways subject to approval by the director of works and operations. This provision has been made in the past only to RCMP vehicles, City vehicles used for work on or near the highway, and public utility vehicles.
Renovations
Renovations to the community centre, including the implementation of wheelchair-accessible washrooms, will be funded though the Canada-Manitoba Building Canada Fund.
Council resolved to enter into an agreement with the Government of Manitoba that will see the City, provincial and federal governments contribute $60,000 each, for a combined total of $180,000 for the renovations.
Crime Stoppers
Manitoba Crime Stoppers will receive a donation from the City of Flin Flon to recognize the work the organization does in the community.
Council voted to make a donation of 10 cents per capita, for a total of $518.10 to Manitoba Crime Stoppers.
