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Clearwater Incorporation Study Committee

Minutes of Meeting- March 2, 2006

Meeting started 7:30 pm

Present: Bert Walker, Max Tanner, Charlene Holtby, Pauline Gregory, Ron Van der Zwan, Sheena Van Dyk, Christy Dobi, Heather MacLennan

 Absent: Ralph Sunderman, Linda Selbee, Carol Robertson, Kelly Graffunder, Hans Wadlegger,

 Members of the public present: 22 persons

 1) Introductions:

2) Action Items from Feb 22nd meeting:

3) Review of “Draft” financial data for boundary revisions:

Purpose of review :

            in today’s dollars, with various additions to the study area.   

            the boundaries of the study area

            information taken from the last study, personal knowledge, Regional District

            information, and Assessment authority estimates. 

 Note: Any of this information clearly would need to be verified by the  consultant.

 Background:

·        Expenditures in previous study  – increase since last time with inflation

one exception – roads – need realistic assessment

·        Revenues in previous study

Some positive changes:

·        include Vavenby industrial site as a satellite to municipality as

Clearwater is service area to industrial site;

·        extend boundaries to include various utilities as they are taxed at

a higher rate – 6 times residential rate ( info in section 7 in book )

      - CNR

      - Trans Mountain ( Terasen )

      - AT & T

      - Telus

      - not Hydro – goes to school tax

Max reviewed the Proposed Municipal Taxation exercise:

·        Page 14 Increasing Factors to Expenditures and Revenue explained that page 1 explains the columns and any changes form the last study and additions and deletions are noted.  Also noted that consultant needs to clarify the roads in kms

·        Page 5 Estimated Municipal Administration Expenditures explained that the figures in several rows increase with the addition of each area and are based on estimated percentage increase as calculated by the number of residential, farm and business properties ( % column on page 14 ) . Some rows would not change as they more than likely cover the cost of administration in any small community.

·        Page 6 Estimated Municipal Miscellaneous Expenses explained new columns from last study, which are Emergency Management and this figure, came from what Chase uses. Community Parks increased due to Miller fish viewing station, Birch Island old school, Blackpool Park at end of old Ferry road.  Vavenby Industrial Grant is new from last study and Birch Island cemetery was missed and needs to be added; also equipment reserve line needs to be increased.

·        Page 7 Estimated Municipal Miscellaneous Expenses explained that fire department 2006 budget is $158,950 thus total under Greer Candle; Street lighting budget for 2006 is $53,000; also Birch Island would need separate fire hall.

·        Page 8 Estimated Municipal Revenues explained that the fourth row should read provincial transitional grant (for 3 years) and Provincial Planning Grant is for 2 years. Two new rows are building permits and gas tax.    

·        Page 9 Estimated Municipal-TNRD Service Expenditures explained that all rows increased on the basis of business, residential and farm assessment percentages.

·        Page 4 Estimated Summary Expenses and Revenues explained expenses & revenue are a carry over from previous spreadsheets to create a lump sum total of expense and revenue. Explained how taxation figure was arrived at; (total of Column in expenses minus municipal revenues equals taxation).

·        Page 11 Mil Rate Estimates explained taxation from page 4 is divided by assessment from page 10 equals mil rate

·        Question: page 10 noted that in Miller, Southside and Utilities in residential row that figures did not increase

Action Item: Error noted and will be adjusted by Bert 

·   Page 12 Estimate of Current Total Taxes (2005) Within CID Boundaries top section of page is referring to taxes as it is set up today; Est. Municipal Taxes W/O Birch Island (BI), Greer and Blackpool bottom section of sheet is referring to what taxes would happen if became incorporated without BI, Greer and Blackpool. Explained that residential would be assessed at 6.27 mils, table also shows taxes pre and post incorporation

·        Question: What happens to areas outside of municipality? TNRD services areas outside of municipality.

·  Page 13 Estimated Municipal Tax Rates for Similar Type Communities for 2005 explained how mil rate was arrived at for business (residential mil rate of 6.27 times 2.4 multiplier factor = 15.05).

Action Item: Bert is to get mil rate for what we are paying now.

·        Max went over the purpose of the exercise and how it would help to determine what boundaries to have the study completed on

·        Max asked the committee members if there was enough information given for committee to make a decision tonight on the boundaries to have studied. Community members said no that corrections to spreadsheets needed to be made first, spreadsheets needed to show increments for each individual area  added and Vavenby industrial site is in question

Action item: Bert is to make corrections to spreadsheet and add additional information to the spreadsheet that was requested.

4) Next Steps:

a) process to contact people living in add-on areas to see if they would be included in the study.

b) Do we need to expand membership to get representation from add on areas

5) Correspondence:

Action item: Max will deal with the question list according to the suggestion

6) Responses to question items on consultant TOR

a) Draft of what went to Barriere and Barriere comments form committee meeting in Barriere

b) Subcommittee to review bid proposals

Questions asked by members were: why were some consultant highlighted and what did the highlighting mean, how was list derived and have all consultants on list completed this type of work?

Action item: Max is to get answers to the above questions and e-mail the answers to the committee members.

Action item: Max is to contact absent members to see if they want to be part of subcommittee – Ralph, Linda

7) Discussion Re: how committee members were selected & why incorporation issue has resurfaced

8) Rules Re: who would be allowed to vote if there is one?

Are dependent on the services received. i.e. Weyerhaeuser subdivision receives water & sewer so pay taxes for this service. Those who do not receive this service (outside area that receives water & sewer) do not pay taxes for this service.

Max asked the public: How can we make the meetings better? Public can respond to this question by contacting Max by phone or e-mail.

From the Public:

Next Meeting is March 22 at the Resource Centre at 7:00 pm