Thunder in the valley deferred again?

The following article appears in this week's Pass Promoter the link to the story written by Joni MacFarlane is at the bottom of the Post

Rum Runner Days’ fate in limbo

A brief and ultimately indecisive discussion took place last week on the fate and funding of Rum Runner Days festivities.

During budget discussions, administration recommended municipal funding for 2013 Rum Runner Days be reduced to $4,500 from $40,000. The recommendation was made to match annual funding levels given to other community organizations who put on events such as Bellecrest Days, Canada Day and Pumpkins in the Park, said Chief Administrative Officer Myron Thompson.

“Without a community events strategy in place or without external organizations coming forward to take some initiative, we feel that this funding reduction could be considered,” Thompson said.

Last year, council decided to put off the popular Thunder in the Valley fireworks show, citing safety and financial concerns.

A reduced Rum Runner Days weekend was held and the financial report released in November, showed that it cost taxpayers $44,000 plus a municipal contribution of $40,000.

On Jan. 17, some council members said they needed to have a discussion on the issue when they had more time.

Mayor Bruce Decoux questioned how Rum Runner Days had become so heavily funded compared to other community events.

Marion Vanoni, director of finance and corporate services, told council she was involved in the event since 1981 when a committee of the Crowsnest Pass Chamber of Commerce organized it.

Eventually, she said, as the event grew, the Chamber asked for council’s support.

“At that point, our committee switched from being under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce to be more overlooked by the council, simply because of the type of event with the fireworks and the need to try and put more money into keeping people… for the whole weekend,” said Vanoni. “As that evolved, more participation in kind came from the municipality funding as you see it now. We were considered to be more of a draw for outside people to come in, more economic, as opposed to Coleman and Bellevue which were more local community-knit events.”

Mayor Decoux agreed council would need more time to discuss funding levels but stressed that council did not cancel the fireworks display.

“There seems to be a misconception here. This council deferred Rum Runner fireworks for a year. That means for that year it was cancelled. It was deferred until another year,” said Mayor Decoux. “Due to circumstances, we no longer have the ability to put on the fireworks locally but there are many, many fireworks experts available. That does not preclude that Rum Runners’ group from raising money and hiring a group to do that… I hate to see that thing disappear forever… There’s nothing that says they cannot stage the whole thing again under the new bylaws, under the new safety precautions that are in place.”

Mayor Decoux went on to say that he had hoped to stage a Jamboree next summer in conjunction with Rum Runner Days, but “the Exhibition group backed out until after the inspection that was instigated by the Ratepayers group”.

Councillor Saindon, who was Chair of the 2012 Rum Runner Days, said there had been no response from committee members to an email sent out on Jan. 10.

“This is up to the public, this is a volunteer situation, this is not a council endeavour,” said Mayor Decoux. “If the public wishes to hold it, that’s fine. The rules and regulations and safety precautions are in place as is required by the province and it’s up to the Rum Runners [committee].”

http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/2013/01/18/rum-runner-days-fate-in-limbo

Municipality of Crowsnest Pass-Thunder in the Valley (More Confusion)

Here is the Press Release from March 7 regarding Thunder in the Valley pay special attention to the first sentence.


March 7, 2012


Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

PRESS RELEASE

"After extensive deliberation with respect to public safety and finances, the Council of
the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has resolved to defer the Thunder in the Valley
component of Rum Runner Days festival. The suspension will be in effect for this
current year and remain in place until such time that an appropriate emergency operational plan, traffic plan as well as the requirements and changes identified by the Rum Runners Event Committee are accomplished"

So like most people I got my town bill yesterday after reading the fascinating write up on Riparian Area Health, I proceed to the Rum Runner Days pamphlet where under Vendor Information I see the following "It is anticipated over 20,000 people will attend the celebrations".

Well that statement blew my socks over, maybe it's a typo maybe it should have read 2,000 or maybe the committee is just being overly optimistic. But let's say they are right then what does the press release from March 7, really mean? What happened to all the previous concerns wasn't the issue all these people coming to the Crowsnest Pass, and all the related issues that come with a crowd of that size. Is the RCMP now guaranteeing the safety, if a crowd of that size comes won't the costs be the same will we need less toilets? less traffic control? less policing? just because there are no fireworks. Is the appropriate emergency operational plan, and the traffic plan now in place? if they are, then couldn't Thunder in the Valley have just gone ahead?

I think we have been had, in a few short months we went from we can't do this event because there are too many safety and financial concerns attached to a crowd of 20-30,000 people, to we can now do this event which will attract more than 20,000 people????  

Interesting things to check out.

Two things: Very interesting letter to the editor in the Pass Herald this week from long time resident Dick Burgman regarding the town hall meeting.
Second if you have not had chance yet check out the Thunder in the Valley T-shirts now available at Sears, very well done. Only $20 and all the profits go to support a very good cause the Crowsnest Museum.


Letter to the Editor is available at the following address:

http://blog.johnprince.ca/2012/07/town-hall-meeting-reflection.html

Ratepayers Association Meeting

Meeting took place last night at the Hillcrest Miners club. I would estimate that there was close to 100 people there.
People were concerned about the following issues:
Taxes/Utility Bills/Franchise Fees
The large amount of dollars being spent on consultants.
Growth in administration and the associated costs.
Thunder in the Valley
Community policing.
Financing of equipment

It was deter minded that the majority of people there were interested in moving the organization forward. The next meeting will be held at the Blairmore Legion Tuesday June 26th at 7pm, there will be elections held at that time for anybody interested in sitting on the executive.

Where have all the Volunteers Gone?

I think the editorial in this weeks Crowsnest Pass Promoter says it all.

http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3506785

Very well written.

Thunder in the Valley Committee Reacts

Just took this off my fellow bloggers site John Prince at http://blog.johnprince.ca/

Dear Editor:

Upon learning of Crowsnest Pass Municipal Council's decision to cancel the upcoming Thunder In The Valley event originally scheduled for July 2012, we would like to express our sincere disappointment. 

For the past eighteen years we have poured our hearts and souls, as well as thousands of volunteer hours, into putting on one of the largest fireworks shows in southern Alberta. We would also like to thank the people of the Crowsnest Pass for their overwhelming support that has allowed us to continue for almost two decades. 

It has been made evident to us over the past few months that Council, as well as the RCMP, have lacked the support or desire to see this event continue. As it finally came to a tipping point on March 6, 2012, it became very clear that the members of the council have been looking for reasons to cancel the event rather than find solutions to promote and continue with it. 

In an email from Councillor Saindon on March 7th, he informed us that even though "(they) know this event draws an enormous crowd (that they) as a committee need to move forward with new events that will still draw people and make the weekend a success." 

We have always contended that we did not want to push an event on this town that was not desired. We now have to accept that it is not. Council has informed us that they do not have an adequate plan in place to address the concerns raised. This appears to be no more than an excuse, using the guise of inflated cost evaluations coupled with the refusal to make appropriate plans. We question as to why council has deferred this planning until only a few months prior to an event of such a large scale in the community? As far as we understand, the monetary value of the policing and management of the Rum Runner Days weekend was a large factor in council's decision. 

After reviewing the proposed 'budget,' which is full of inflated figures, it is no wonder that they decided to cancel the event. Rather than working with the current situation, they would prefer to go in a different direction and "focus on the parade, car show, Gazebo park events, free stage, potential concert, dinner and dance etc." 

We also find it unusual that the Municipal council based its decision on the recommendation of two individuals, the CAO and the Interim Manager, Enforcement Services, neither of whom even live in the community full time nor took the time to meet with our organization to discuss their concerns. 

However, as mentioned in our original statement following the announcement, we do not agree with Municipal council's decision, but we will abide by it as they have been elected to speak for the people of the Crowsnest Pass. 

We do find it interesting that the municipality has recently found funds available to create several new positions and to spend enormous amounts of money on having bylaws created and revised, but when it came to spending money on public safety for an event that draws thousands to the area, the financial burden became too high. 

Interestingly enough, the Crowsnest Pass Promoter recently published an article regarding a new fireworks bylaw, in which Donna Tona is quoted as saying "If we continue with our fireworks show, Thunder in the Valley, we do need to follow the rules of the province [and] all the Acts.” 

We find this surprising as news to us, as the members of our organization are regulated by the Federal Government through the Explosives Regulatory Branch and use fireworks that are not subject to provincial acts. It brings into question how much research was actually done by her. 

Following that up, the article mentions that "Mayor Decoux questioned why Thunder in the Valley organizers haven’t brought the issue to the attention of the RCMP if it was against federal law." Quite honestly, we are embarrassed that the mayor's ignorance regarding what we have been doing for the past eighteen years. We did not realize that it was a volunteer organization's responsibility to ensure that the municipal council was doing its due diligence in matters of legality. 

Between the comments of Tona and Decoux in the article, our organization was quite offended, making us feel that we have been nothing but a group of common criminals for the last eighteen years. 

We would ask that before Mayor Decoux or Interim Manager, Enforcement Services speak publicly about our organization in the future that they would do some adequate research to avoid slandering our organization's reputation. Possibly in the future they may want to actually consult us directly on such matters.


Thunder in the Valley Committee

Standing behind your decisions.

Crowsnest Pass Defers Thunder In The Valley But May Have Other Fire Works To Deal With


Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Posted at 1:58:04 PM

Source: Tristan Tuckett - Dori Modney -- Country 95 News

CROWSNEST PASS: There will be a lot less thunder at Thunder in the Valley this summer.

A spokesman with the Crowsnest Pass Municipality confirms that while Rum Runner Days will still go on, there will be no fireworks. Country 95 News spoke with Municipal Councillor Emile Saindon, who initially stated he had nothing to do with the event and didn't know anything about it. However, staff at the Municipal office stated Saindon was the only person who could comment on the issue and Saindon's own blog site states he is the Chairperson for this year's Rum Runner events.

Saidon eventually, and reluctantly, admitted the fireworks are being deleted for this year because of traffic and emergency response but he would not elaborate.

As of noon Wednesday, the Thunder In The Valley website posted it as the 19th annual event which would take place on July 19th. There was also a clock counting down to the date. http://thunderinthevalley.ca/

A news release from the Municipality was issued at 1:30 Wednesday and the text follows:

After extensive deliberation with respect to public safety and finances, the Council of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has resolved to defer the Thunder in the Valley component of Rum Runner Days festival. The suspension will be in effect for this current year and remain in place until such time that an appropriate emergency operational plan, traffic plan as well as the requirements and changes identified by the Rum Runners Event Committee are accomplished.

The CAO for the Crowsnest Pass refused comment on what changes the Rum Runner Event Committee were hoping to put in place. Country 95 News was also told Mayor Bruce Decoux was not available to respond to questions about how the decision would impact economic and advertising elements of the summer event.

Various blog posts from the Crowsnest Pass indicate safety is the main concern, coupled with the requirement for expensive liability insurance and the illegal sale of fireworks by local stores. The Municipality is working on a bylaw to deal with the issues.

This was posted at the following address    http://www.country95.fm/news/news-detail.asp?ID=5037#comments


Motion from March 6 Council Meeting Minutes available on Municipal Web site




M#6443-12: Councillor Gail moved that Council defer the Thunder in the Valley event from the
Rum Runners celebration until such time that Council determines and approves an
appropriate traffic emergency measures and financial plan to reincorporate this
event.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Councillor Saindon abstained from voting due to conflict of interest as
Chairperson of the Rum Runner Days Committee

Thunder in the valley-It was great while it lasted

Well after a unanimous vote (except for Councilor Saindon who declined to vote), council has decided to defer Thunder in the Valley. Which in laymen terms means it isn't happening this year.
I have had my differences with some people over this issue but there was never a question on my part about the economic impact of this event on this community.
It would take more than both my hands and all my toes to count the number of times I have had business people say to me this is the one weekend of the year I make decent money in this community.

Will Thunder in the Valley be back? You tell me.

Here is my opinion of what happened (I may be wrong but you don't have to agree with me).
I believe that some of the local politicians had no intention of carrying on with Thunder In the Valley. I was telling people last summer that this would be the last year. But knowing politicians they seldom want to take the heat for their decisions. So what do politicians do, you try to find a way to blame somebody else so Council came forth with a plan prior to Christmas (even though one of their own administrators told them last night that a event of this size should be planned a year and half in advance). To strike up a committee to run the Rum runner days/Thunder in the Valley weekend. Well we all know what a hot potato this issue as been over the years. I believe at that point council anticipated that the firemen would get pissed off and tell them to stick Thunder up their rear end. Well the firemen figured that one out and real quickly threw it back in council's lap. So now what to do? well you have to find good reasons to cancel it so lets aim for two hot button issues "safety and cost". The number being thrown around last night was anywhere from $70,000 to $150,000 for additional costs for thunder in the valley. Why such a large spread in the numbers? because they weren't  really sure. Are those costs justified? well lets be honest you can generate any number you want . Depending on what you ask for, if you want nobody parking in Blairmore and everybody bussed in $$$$ if you want to put a fence along the CPR tracks $$$$ if you want traffic controlled by Peace Officers instead of volunteers $$$$, an RCMP member on every street corner $$$$ and so on and so on.
Think of it has a buying a vehicle if you want to show up to work in a big diesel  4x4 all chromed up with leather seats, or you are just looking for a small safe efficient car that will get you to work and home every day the costs are going to be so different.
Safety is that an issue well it depends on what criteria you look at are there a certain numbers of twits in every crowd? no question, has that been better enforced over the years you bet 4 years ago we had 50 people in jail Saturday night last year I think we had 15 the whole weekend. Traffic I'm told that the flow of traffic has improved every year maybe people aren't telling me the truth. Could things be done better? always.
Will some people be glad it's gone? you bet.
Interesting I remember talking to an individual a couple of years back that said they would never shop at Fields ran into the guy on the weekend he can't believe that we are losing another business.

Clarification: I was just called and asked by a reader to clarify that Rum Runner Days is still scheduled to go ahead. It is only Thunder in the Valley that was cancelled by council. 

Random Thoughts from the Crowsnest Pass

Outstanding taxes: Remember all that discussion about the $1,044,000 that was outstanding in taxes back in early November. The stress that it was putting on the municipal cash flow. Forcing council to up the tax penalty from 21% to 52%, which would solve the problem by encouraging people to catch up fast.

Remember my comments on this issue check them out at:
http://crowsnestpasshome.blogspot.com/2011/12/property-tax-penalties-numbers.html

Council was informed at the G+P meeting on Jan 24 that surprisingly only 17% of those back taxes have been paid. (Check the numbers from any other year I would expect the 17% is very typical). There is still $870,000 outstanding and even more surprisingly 67% of that total is owed by Non-residential taxpayers.


Good News story, Economic update: This is what is so great about the Internet it is a great tool to communicate. On Councilor Gallant’s blog, he posts some very interesting information regarding all the exciting “new” businesses that have opened in the Pass since the beginning of his term.
Check it out for yourself at: http://briangallant.ca/wordpress/2012/01/23/celebrate-businesses-old-and-new/
Road Closure last week: Felt badly for anybody that was stranded in the Pass, I expected a much larger problem with our largest hotel shut down for the winter (50 rooms not available). Amazingly two things happened many people heading this way knew about the road conditions so did not come. Which was evident by the fact that there were still hotel rooms available at 8pm that night and as you can read in the Promoter’s editorial, today people pulled together and looked after those that needed assistance.

I thought Sparwood would have been much worse with the hundreds of miners trapped over there, but they did what the Pass and most communities do in these types of situations they pulled together.
http://www.elkvalleyherald.ca/index3.htm despite having much larger numbers of people trapped than we did, only 21 people had to sleep on a cot at the recreation centre.

Thunder in the Valley: This is Councilor Saindon’s project he stated this week that the committee would be meeting in council chambers on the 30th, with the RCMP. He also reported that the committee as now had three meeting and is moving forward; anybody that is interested is welcome to attend the meeting. In conjunction with that, Mayor Decoux started reading a letter from the Blairmore Fireworks committee requesting a meeting with council at the Blairmore Fire Hall, Mayor Decoux stated that if they wished to meet with council they could come as a delegation in front of council.
Sad to read that unless some new volunteers step forward there will not be a show and shine this year, I know many people including myself that really enjoyed that.

Stupid story of the week: I was confronted this morning by an older fellow who was really anger because somebody had “alleged” that previous council had spent $1 million moving the tenants from the Crowsnest Centre to the MDM. I asked him three things; one do you or anybody else have any kind of evidence to substantiate that number. Two was the source of this information the same one that “alleged” that we would lose our Food Bank and Education Consortium. Three this council is now entering its second budget process, it will have its second opportunity to put the funding in place if the centre is truly such a high priority for this community.

Cost of consultants: Sounds like we the taxpayers are going to receive this information on Councilor Gallant’s blog today in a response to a question about the cost of consultants he replies with the following:

“I do not know offhand how much we spent on consultants. We need to hire professionals for specific projects from time to time and I suspect it’s no higher than any other year. I believe we paid approximately $5,000 to have the Task Force document written but I could be wrong since I do not have the information here. There was also a small gift given to the members of the task force of approximately $200 each, and they had travel expenses covered by the municipality. All of this information will be available in March when we receive our audited financial statements. If you want it earlier, please contact Finance at the municipal office.

Stream lining of the municipal office: I hear through the grapevine that the new Director of Public Works, Engineering and planning will be commencing his duties shortly.

Rum Runner Days weekend.

Well here is your chance to make your comments about the weekend, good bad or indifferent. Weather it be the parade, show and shine, carnival, Thunder in the Valley, etc.

What did you think, is the weekend worth the $100,000 of taxpayers money that goes in to it?

Should the weekend continue in its present form, should the municipality be taking over the entire weekend as suggested by our local leaders or just leaving it alone.

Looking forward to any and all comments, now's your chance to speak.

 

Economic Task Force-Rum Runner Days/Thunder in the Valley

What I believe is going to be one of the most controversial recommendations in the Task Force Report is #10 regarding the whole Rum Runner/Thunder in the Valley weekend.
Below we have the Task Force recommendation and there suggestions about how to achieve it.
Some of council is already chomping at the bit to get to this issue, a few meetings back, Councilor Gail asked the CAO if they have received all the financial information from the Fire Dept yet, the previous CAO stated they were still waiting. Early in the year Mayor Decoux wanted administration to find out who owns Thunder in the Valley.
This last meeting Mayor Decoux notified a number of local residents that this year will be the last year that this weekend will be ran the way it’s always been, that next year there will be significant change. Councilor Gail this week also asked if it would not be better for the municipality to take back over the camping along the train tracks to realize that revenue for municipal coffers.

Then to top it all off Mayor Decoux stated that the real cost of this weekend for the municipality will be well in excess of $100,000.

Here is the recommendation and suggestions from the task force on how to enhance the weekend I have put a Note with my comments after each point

“10. Review and re-develop Rum Runner Days/Thunder in the Valley with a focus on increasing potential for economic benefit to the community and local businesses:”

• Establish a community committee to run Rum Runner Days/Thunder in the Valley with the support of the Tourism Coordinator. Note: This would clearly tie the two events together the arguments have always been made by the affected groups that they are two separate events.

• Develop a financial model that is transparent regarding sources and uses of funds and results in profit to the Municipality, local businesses and the event. Note: If the two events are being tied together will all parties share all financial information as requested by Councilor Gail.

• Consider payment for parking and bussing into a central location as a revenue generator and resolution for egress problems in the past. Note: Wow what a logistic nightmare, 50 people on a bus even if you forced half the crowd lets say 15000 to get on a bus that 300 bus loads where would you find them, park them and control who gets on which bus.

• Consider expanding the event to Thursday night, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Note: great idea in theory lots of work will you find somebody willing to take on this load. There was a public request last year for help to take over the work load that Marion Vanoni as handled for year not a lot of people stepped forward.

• Add entertainment by inviting big name acts for Thursday night, Friday night Saturday night before the fireworks, and Sunday afternoon. Many of these entertainers may already be at the South Country Fair, which is the same weekend, and may be able to perform in a sponsored tent located a reasonable distance from residential areas with bussing back and forth from the designated parking. Note: who will put all the money up front to sponsor these events especially the first year, if you want big name acts you will pay big money guaranteed money. Even retro groups like Nazareth, April Wine command $12-15,000 up front money. Do we want to risk taxpayers money on the success of these types of ventures.

• Attract sponsorships including approaching Cowboys in Calgary to sponsor and manage the tent, as well as Bacardi Rum for donations of liquor, consistent with the Rum Runner theme. Identify other sponsors in addition to these examples. Note: I was involved with a beer garden once on this weekend if you are going to maintain this weekend as a family event I would like to stay away from this kind of event. In addition, easy to confirm with the RCMP the number of arrests without Beer Gardens as been way down.

• Enhance promotion through an integrated campaign building on web site, billboards, radio and social media. Note: Does this event need any more promotion I think anybody within a 300 km radius knows about the event. Also advertising is very expensive who will front those dollars in the first year.

This is going to be a very tough issue to deal with groups that have had control of different aspects are not going to relinquish them freely. There are certain parts of this weekend that are actually owned by groups, will we see a budget item this year to purchase naming rights to Thunder in the Valley. Some people want to grow the event some people want it to go away. Irregardless of what any of us think Mayor and Council seem determined to change this weekend.

G + P Meeting June 28, 2011

Adoption of Agenda:

Mayor Decoux added # 9 under Topics for Discussion, Strategic Planning.
Councilor Saindon added a personnel issue In Camera.
CAO requested that Item #6 and #8 under Topics for discussion go In Camera, and that Item #7 be deferred to July 12th.
Motion to accept agenda with additions passed unanimously

Delegations:

1. Scott Warris, Treasurer-Crowsnest Pass Boy’s and Girl club. Provided and update on upcoming activities, fund raising and fiscal situation. Informed council that they are selling raffle tickets around town. That they will be doing a duck race at the centre access on July 16, running the concession at the Sinister seven event, and that the Blairmore Lions are giving them the proceeds from their up coming golf tournament. He also stated that they have raised one third of the $40,000 they anticipated but are very hope full they will reach their goals with the previously mentioned fundraisers.

2. June Vastenhout-Neighbourhood Concerns with random camping during the Rum Runner days weekend near Lyons creek. After an explanation of the issue by the residents, Mayor Decoux felt they should be addressing their concerns to the CAO and the bylaw officer.

Note: At this point Mayor Decoux informed the residents that there is not a lot of time to deal with the over all issues caused by the success of the Rum Runner Days/Thunder in the Valley weekend and the masses of people it brings for that event. However, he assured the residents that this is the last year that it will be ran in the fashion it as previously been run.

Topics for Discussion:
1. Property Tax Installment Bylaw-Language cleanup regarding the bylaw allowing residents to pay there taxes in installments.

2. Rum Runner Days/Thunder in the Valley, Administration provided an update on all the services being in place for that weekend. Mayor Decoux made the point that this weekend is costing the municipality well in excess of a $100,000. Councilor Gail also raise a concern about groups using the camping opposite the ISS as a fund raiser felt that money should be coming back to the community, allowing it to recoup its costs.

3. Orpheum Theatre Bylaw-Update on allowing this building to get an historical designation.

4. Alta Link follow up-Council had requested Alta Link’s environmental report on the proposed line upgrades in the Pass, mostly irrelevant at this point due to the line not moving above Blairmore.

5. Advertising Policy-Basically allows each department to advertise anywhere they see fit as long as the dollars are approved in its budget. Strange policy it specifies that one particular form of media will receive advertising in more than one local vendor but then instructs administration to go get the best deal they can.(?)

6. Agenda Format Changes moved to In Camera

7. Review of the Procedural Bylaws and the G+P committee deferred to July 12

8. Community Standards Bylaw enforcement moved to In Camera

9. Strategic Planning-Mayor Decoux made it clear to council that there is a lot of work to be done this summer, many meetings long hard days of preparing council’s strategic plan with a first draft ready for Sept 1. He requested that a couple of members of council get together and co-ordinate everybody’s schedule by next council meeting, Councilor Saje with the assistance of Councilor Saindon agreed to do this.

Note: Two things that took place during the meeting really surprised me, after the Cuff report recommended that we combine our committee of the whole and several other committees’ into the G+P meeting format. The previous council was clearly told by our administrator at that time that we could not pass motions at those meeting, but we could vote on weather to forward recommendations to council. This went on for at least the last year and a half of the previous council, after the election new council and new CAO carried on the same practice. Last night while dealing with Topics for Discussion the Interim CAO informed council that this practice was wrong that council can not conduct any votes at the G+P meeting, really surprising that the last two CAO’s did not know that.

The second issue that absolutely shocked me was just prior to going In Camera; the Mayor decided that he needed to share a few words with administration, with the public and media still sitting there. He started with nobody on council has legislative experience on procedures of council; he also went on about how administration needed to provide council with clear, precise complete information. That anything less than that would not be tolerated, that if council was put in the position of making decisions without all the information being 100% available and accurate that he and Council would be making recommendations to the CAO regarding those administrators.

Do I have a problem with what was said above, or even the tone that it was said in? No. Management in every organization when justified needs a good kick in the ass, the problem with what happened above is it should have been done behind closed doors. No employee should be given shit by their Boss in front of the public let alone the media.

In Camera: Motion to go In Camera passed unanimously.

Torch is passed to the "Dream Team"

Mayor’s Final Task Force Report June 20 2011.


Well last night I attended the presentation of the Mayor’s Final Task Report, the task force and council was all there with by my estimation 150-200 local residents.

The Mayor gleefully informed us at the beginning that his council was now known as the “Dream Team”. I love dreams the only down side is when you are just really getting to enjoy one, you wake up and realize it was just a dream and now you have to deal with reality.

The Mayor put a lot of emphasis on the Task Forces member’s great wealth of expertise (no argument) and their many connections to the Crowsnest Pass. I think some how trying to distant the initial public reaction to the fact that there was no “locals” named to the team, but any way the report is here now and needs to be addressed.

Did I hear anything really new? No. I have always taken the position that there are many good ideas here in the Crowsnest Pass, the issue then, now and in to the future. Is embracing the ideas, implementing them and eventually the most important part of the equation paying for them.

Therefore, what did I hear from the report:

1. One unified community,

2. One Crowsnest Pass Fire and Rescue Department with one chief and multiple substations, one library system with multiple branches.

3. Hiring an Economic Development Officer

4. Clarity on the timing and route for the Highway 3 realignment

5. Establish a Community Economic Development Advisory Committee

6. “Crowsnest: Mountain Freedom” branding and put in place gateway signage

7. Establish a grant and funding process to support specific economic development projects

8. Full time Tourism Coordinator Position

9. Implementation of a Tourism levy as part of the hotel rate structure as well as a 1 cent/litre gas tax to fund tourism/community marketing.

10. Review and re-develop Rum Runner Days/Thunder in the Valley, establish a community committee to run this weekend, and develop a financial model that is transparent regarding sources and uses of funds and results in profits to the Municipality, local businesses and the event.

11. Seek investment or partner to add chair lift to the Pass Powderkeg Ski hill.

12. Work with historical partners to expand the Crowsnest Museum

13. Demolish and remediate the former Crowsnest Centre site and issue an RFP to developers for proposals to redevelop the site.

14. Investigate opportunities to re-appropriate the Bridgegate River Run property.

15. Work on a Centre for excellence in Field Studies

16. Develop strategy to attract new development.

17. Develop and maintain relationships with major employers.

18. Build community pride to increase support for local business

19. Explore feasibility of a regional Truck stop/Bulk Fuel/Tire Sales along Highway 3

20. Enhanced services and activities for retirees and seniors

21. Enhance amenities for families, community recreation centre

I have not listed all the recommendations, a lot of them are similar these are the ones that jumped out at me. The tricky part as I stated previously is going to be the implementation and paying for these great ideas. To that end the Mayor informed us that Council will be coming back to the public in early fall with a strategic plan.

How do we the public measure the success of this report? A couple of ways, 29 recommendations, 15 of them have a timeline of this year attached to them. Budget 2012 will be here before you know it.


Note: Just received a call mentioning to me that at this time we all need to keep in mind that these are the recommendations of the Task Force, Council does not have to accept them all, or any for that matter. Right now this is one of those famous political trial balloons so for my readers if you wish to influence where this report or any of its suggestions go. You need to speak to your members of council.

Randy thanks for the call, your right. 

Rum Runner Days weekend

As I previously reported council, specifically Mayor Decoux raised several issues in regard to Rum Runner Days, and the Thunder in the Valley event, further to those comments Joni raises the isuue in the Promoter Editorial today.

http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2930355

In addition the Promoter provides an opportunity for the community to vote, for their opinion as to whether the weekend is benefical to the community or not, whichever side you stand on this issue here is your chance to at least vote on it.

http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/

Jan 4 council meeting and observations

I am going to talk to three issues that jumped out at last nights meeting.

1. Advertising:

That darn advertising issue, just does not want to get resolved after almost three months of debate, being sent back to administration at least three times, the policy was defeated again at last nights meeting.

Some of the comments that I found very interesting Councilor Saje requested that this be discussed further at the Council retreat (Jan 6), Mayor Decoux made it crystal clear that it would not be on the agenda or added to it. At one point if I heard right, Saje made a motion to that effect which the Mayor never did put to a vote.

Councilor Gail wants to further examine inserts into the papers and better use of the municipal web site. Councilor Saindon also wants to look at the insert idea.

I also heard comments about the huge increase in costs being presented to council by administration, Councilor Mitchell seemed surprised again that it would jump so much.

(I really struggle with this, if you take something that you were doing one time a week, and do it 2 times a week at 3 times the cost, surprise your costs are going to go up by at least 6 times)

Councilor Saindon threw out the number of $18,000 for advertising in two papers, $10,000 for the use of inserts, and $8000 for quarter page ads for development issues.

The year that we advertise in two papers for $18,000 will be the year that I part the red sea.

Mayor Decoux talks at great length about how this would not have been an issue if there had been a policy in place, to which I reply there was. It was very simple and easy to follow once a year each paper was given the opportunity to bid on the advertising with council awarding it to the "lowest" bidder. Not very complicated at all.

2. Policy Committee

Mayor Decoux as decided to strike up a policy committee, to review all municipal policies to make them functional, efficient and effective.

The Committee will be comprised of himself, the CAO and the Director of legislative services.
With the addition of ad hoc members when necessary and relevant.

I have a concern with this committee being struck, that being that the Mayor will in essence be in complete control of all policy coming back to council. The committee will meet once a month to put together policy, the Mayor by his presence and participation will play a big part in developing such policy and steering the direction of that policy. The example that was held up to justify this process would be the advertising policy and all the delays that have been created by that policy.

What drives my concern? our previous Mayor had a committee similar to this, except his committee was made up of himself and two councilors (one of whom would usually side with him on most issues). This committee would send back policy to council that usually was framed (nice political word) in a direction that worked for the Mayor's agenda.

When somebody on council spoke against these recommendations or the direction/tone. One of the pro Mayor councilors would give the speech about how so much time and effort of the Committee and administration had gone into these policies that it would be more than acceptable to go along with the policies as presented. The point being that the committee was used as a screening process, and tool for the Mayor to control and set the direction of policy.

I truly hope this is not the direction that this committee is going.

3. Thunder in the Valley

The Mayor requested that the CAO bring back a report on the policing of Thunder in the Valley and what struck me as really interesting, who owns and operates Thunder in the Valley.

Councilor Saindon stated that he had heard last summer that Thunder in the Valley was owned and operated by the Blairmore Fire Department.

Going back to my own experience I got slapped last summer on both my blog and around town when one of my readers requested the amount of municipal dollars that go into that weekend. I made the mistake of referring to it as Thunder in the Valley, when it was pointed out to me that it was Rum Runner Days, that Thunder in the Valley was just a part of the weekend.

It really will be interesting to see where council is going with this issue. It is indeed the event that brings out a bigger crowd than any other event in this town each year.

Council Meeting of January 4, 2011

Public Hearing: Bylaw 814, 2010

Regarding the land use bylaw for lots that required a 5’ and 10’ setback on each side of a residence where there is no back lane
No one spoke in favor or opposition

Adoption of Agenda

Councilor Mitchell added an item 3 to other business Office Protocol

Mayor Decoux added an item 4 to other business Thunder in the Valley Policing

Motion to accept Agenda as amended passed unanimously

Adoption of Previous Minutes

1. Regular Council Meeting of December 21 Motion to accept passed unanimously

2. Special Budget Meeting of December 14 Motion to accept passed unanimously

Delegation: None

Administration and Agency Reports: None

Business Arising From the Minutes

1. Advertising Policy-Motion made to accept Option #1 failed (3-4) with Mayor Decoux, Councilors Mitchell, and Londsbury in favor.

2. Consideration for a time extension, Council had previously asked for all resolutions of council for the previous two terms to be reviewed and see which ones were not enforced. Administration requested an extension to have more time to complete this project. Motion to extend until March 15 passed unanimously

Correspondence: Lloyd Bentz regarding Bow Crow Forest Trails Grant

Motion was made to send a letter of thanks passed unanimously

Committee Reports:

1. G + P minutes of December 14 Motion to accept passed unanimously

2. FCSS Minutes of Dec 1 Motion to accept passed unanimously

Bylaws: 814, 2010

Second reading Motion passed unanimously

Third reading Motion passed unanimously

Notices of Motion: None

Other Business

1. Request for a Letter of Support-Bellcrest Community Association Motion passed Unanimously

2. Policy Committee, after a lengthy presentation by the Mayor regarding the definition of and the need for policy. A motion was made to set up a Committee comprised of three permanent members (Mayor, CAO, and Director of legislative services) and ad hoc members from areas that are relevant to the issues at hand. Motion passed Unanimously

3. Office Protocol, Councilor Mitchell raised a concern about members of the public wandering the office, taking up the time of municipal employees. After a puzzled look from everybody else in the room, the CAO committed to look into this issue.

4. Thunder in the Valley Policing, Mayor Decoux requested that the CAO bring back a report to the council regarding the policing at Thunder in the Valley, and inform Council who owns and operates Thunder in the Valley.

Public Input: None

In Camera: Personnel Issue

Thunder in the Valley Clarification

Taken a bunch of heat in the last few days about my post May 6 2010 "Thunder in the Valley"

So today I am going to clarify things so a few narrow minded people do not take the opportunity to make political hay out of my comments.

Yes I made a mistake on the title it should have been Rum Runner Days & Thunder in the Valley. I did not intend to focus all of the attention on just Thunder in the Valley.

Second the reason for the post, often I receive requests on where "your" tax dollars are spent, when I am asked I attempt to supply that information, I was asked in person via email and phone what the taxpayers spent on this weekend, I posted that information.
For example I was asked last week how much we spent on snow clearing this year versus last, why would I not supply that information?
Do I has a councilor have the right to say I'm not going to tell you?

Third I have been accused of attacking groups that put this event on, not true read the post who do I attack in my post? Look at the words " Great weekend that draws lots of people in to the Valley" which of those words are negative?
"and is a boon for most of our businesses" which of those words are negative? quite the contrary I think they speak very positively about the whole weekend.

Now do I have concerns about this weekend? of course when you have 30,000 people here if one percent of them are idiots that's 300 people, (could do a lot of damage in a small town). yes I see that side of it, I work that weekend as a jail guard at the local RCMP establishment and I see what those people have to contend with.

As far as the comments to my post, I post almost all of the comments that I receive go back and read some of the Crowsnest Centre stuff on this Blog some of the comments I received they were not all favourable to myself. The only comments I have refused to post since I started this blog were a couple of which I believed to be libel, and a couple of comments that made fun of a local persons medical condition.

Anyway back to the point of this "clarification" the original post was presented as an answer to questions I was asked by taxpayers. And under no circumstances was it an attack on any individual or group(s), and if somebody took it that way I apologise.

The idiots put aside this weekend brings a lot of good, business, and publicity to this town.

Thunder in the Valley

Great weekend that draws lots of people in to the Valley, and is a boon for most of our businesses, every year I am asked what does it cost us the taxpayers. So here are the budget numbers for 2010.

Donation for Fireworks $4500
Traffic Control $6200
Policing $10000
Garbage + Toilets $11500
Activties + Entertainers $18000

Total $50200

This number does not allow for any municipal wages that go into the weekend.