Caroma Letter

8/7/2019 Caroma Letter

1/33

1

NOTICE OFCOMMUNITY ISSUES COMMITTEE MEETING

DATE: MONDAY, March 15, 2004TIME: 1:00 P.M.PLACE: COUNCIL CHAMBERS

(Public is welcome to attend)

A G E N D A1:00 1. LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AFFECTING THE 2004 ELECTION

Dianne Nemeth, City Clerk

1:45 B R E A K

2:00 2. INFORMATION PLAN ON VEHICULAR EMISSION REDUCTIONDalton Stafford, Manager, Wastewater Utility

3:30 B R E A K

4:00 3. PUBLIC HEARING (SEE SEPARATE AGENDA)

4:30 S U P P E R B R E A K

5:00 4. GARY BOWIE, Chair, Lethbridge Sports Bid Committee,re Past & Current Activities/Future Initiatives

5:30 5. TONY SUCHE, Austral Imports Inc.,re CAROMA Dual-Flush Toilets from Australia

6:00 6. MEETING WITH CITIZENS, Without Formal Notice

6:15 7. SUZANNE LINT, Committee Representative,re Report on Bright Lights Festival 2003


2/33

Department: Office of the City Clerk

March 10, 2004

For Submission to

Community Issues Committee Meeting (CIC)

March15, 2004

His Worship the Mayor and

Members of City Council

Re: Legislative Changes Affecting the 2004 Election

I would like to appear before CIC in order to outline the proposed Legislative changes.The following is my report.

Report Summary

This report provides a summary of the amendments to theLocal AuthoritiesElection Actthat will affect the 2004 General Municipal Election.

A suggested motion is provided in the event that the Committee wishes to directCity Council to provide for the use of special ballots in the 2004 General

Municipal Election.

Changes in Legislation

In the spring 2003 Legislative Session, amendments to the Local AuthoritiesElection Act (L.A.E.A.) were passed.

The following five amendments are the most significant ones that will potentiallyaffect the 2004 Election:

1. Advance vote qualifications

In previous elections, including the 2001 General Municipal Election, a criteria for a

voter to vote at the Advance vote was if they had reason to believe that they would beabsent from the local jurisdiction and unable to attend a voting station during the wholetime fixed for the election.

Section 76(a) of the L.A.E.A. has been amended by striking out absent from the local

jurisdiction and substituting unable to attend a voting station.

Eligible voters are now authorized to vote at an advance vote if they have reason to

believe that they will be unable to attend a voting station during the time fixed for theelection.

This is a positive change because it provides the opportunity for more voters to attend theAdvance vote if for any reason it will be inconvenient for them to vote on Election Day.


3/33

-2-

2. Blind Voter Template

Section 78 of the L.A.E.A. requires a blind voter template for an elector. If a request is

made at least three (3) months before Election Day, we will comply; however, we do notanticipate any requests.

The City of Lethbridge has not used a blind voter template in municipal elections. TheCanadian National Institute for the Blind in Lethbridge has indicated there are only three

or four people who would actually need a template. We will be meeting with CNIB for

further discussions. Most visually impaired can read the large font on the ballot. Thesevoters can be served by the assistance of a friend or the Presiding Deputy Returning

Officer at the voting station.

3. Attendance at an institutional vote

Section 81 of the L.A.E.A. allows candidates and agents to be present at the institutional

vote. For the City of Lethbridge, the institutional vote includes nursing homes, seniorsaccommodation facilities and the Regional Hospital.

This provision would require the institutions to allow candidates and agents to followelection workers, who in many circumstances are visiting individual beds of ill patients.

The potential exists that two election officials, plus a representative of the institution,

plus a candidate or agent equalling the number of candidates on a ballot card (up to 30people in many situations) could be going from bed-to-bed in an institution. The practical

implications are that many institutions, out of concern for their residents or patients, willdeny entry to our election teams.

Administration strongly believe that this amendment should be repealed in the belief thatthe presence of candidates or agents in these typically confined and personal spaces of an

incapacitated voter can lead to undue influence on the voter at the point of voting,

perhaps even some sense of intimidation. Administration is working towards a solution

with Alberta Municipal Affairs through the Alberta Clerks Association.

4. Identification for a candidate or a campaign worker

Section 52 of the L.A.E.A. requires the elected authority to provide identification to a

candidate or a campaign worker who is accessing a residence in a building containing

two or more residences or each residence in a mobile home park.

Administration is working on procedures to manage this process.


4/33

-3-

5. Vote by special ballot

Sections 77.1 77.3 of the L.A.E.A. enable electors to apply to vote by special ballot.

These sections are optional. Council does not have to provide for special ballots.Council may want to consider the following advantages and disadvantages before making

this choice.

Advantages to special ballots include:

Ballots can be marked in the privacy of ones own home

Increases voter convenience

Provides voters who are not able to vote during the advance vote or on election

day with an extended voting period

Decreases barriers that confront non-voters

Disadvantages to special ballots include:

With the use of special ballots, there are no safe guards that could be put in placeto prevent voter fraud. The biggest safe guard is to see people at the voting

station. The voting station has physical protections like secrecy booths and buffer

zones around voting stations that protect voters from coercion by another personwhen they are completing their ballot.

There is no evidence that voter turnout has been improved overall. Marginal andshort-term improvements have been observed in some jurisdictions that have

implemented this.

Ballots will need to be re-copied onto a machine-readable ballot. This may delayreporting of the final results.

Voters may not understand the instructions for voting and unintentionally spoiltheir ballot. The voter will never know if the ballot has actually been cast. For

example if a voter marks a ballot incorrectly in a voting station, election staff

could provide the voter with a new ballot and instructions on how to mark itcorrectly. In the case of special ballots, voters will never know whether or not the

ballot has been marked correctly.

Implementation of special ballots would involve a new approach to ballots that

may require additional staffing to handle the process.

The Office of the City Clerk has been unable to determine any real advantages toimplementing special ballots; however, we await direction in this regard.

We have been advised the cities of Red Deer and Edmonton have discussed this matter

with their Councils who have decided not to proceed with special ballots at this time.


5/33

-4-

The following information was received from the City Clerks Office in Edmonton:

For the 2001 Provincial General Election there were 2,638 valid special ballots

cast. There were 161 rejected special ballots. Rejected ballots included those notreceived by close of polls on Election Day and those not completed properly. In

provincial elections, the number of special ballots being requested has increased.

In the 1997 election there were approximately 9,000 special ballots that wererequested province-wide. In the 2001 election there were approximately 11,000

special ballots requested. However, voter turnout has not increased since the

implementation of special ballots. In fact the overall provincial turnout hasdecreased. Voter turnout for the 2001 election was 52%, the 1997 turnout was

53% and the 1993 turnout was 60%.

Budget / Financial Implications

Cost of administering special ballots is unknown.

Legal Implications

Administration will, if directed, provide for special ballots in the Elections Bylaw.

Special Ballots

Special ballots can also be described as absentee ballots or mail-in ballots.

In the event that Council wishes to direct Administration to provide for special ballots in

the 2004 general municipal election, the following motion is suggested for considerationby City Council:

That Administration bring back an amendment to the Elections Bylaw to provide

for special ballots to City Council.

Dianne Nemeth, CMC

CITY CLERK


6/33

DEPARTMENT:

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

MARCH 3, 2004

FOR SUBMISSION TO THEMARCH 15, 2004

MEETING OF COMMUNITY ISSUES COMMITTEE (CIC)

HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR ANDMEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL

RE: INFORMATION PLAN ON VEHICULAR EMISSION REDUCTION

BACKGROUND:

The City Council, at its December 2002 sitting passed a resolution asking Administration todevelop an information plan on vehicular reduction emission for its approval. This was inresponse to a letter from The Mayor Robert D. Tarleck, expressing his interest in seeing areduction in vehicular emissions.

PROBLEMS OF VEHICLE IDLING:

Most Canadians, on average, idle their vehicles from 5 to 10 minutes a day. Vehicle idlingproduces negative impacts on the environment. It produces greenhouse gases, which contributeto global warming. Vehicle Idling also wastes fuel and us money. It is also not good for ourvehicle engines. As at March 31, 2003, there were about 55,520 vehicles registered in

Lethbridge. If Lethbridges drivers avoided idling for just five minutes, a day, we would save 3.0million litres of fuel, save $2.1 million (at $0.70/litre) and prevent more than 7300 tonnes ofcarbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, per year.

REASONS AND BENEFITS FOR US TO TAKE ACTION:

a. Idling is a perfect issue for municipalities to demonstrate leadership.b. Turning off the engine is a simple easy act for us to do. It does not only encourage others

toward more environmentally sustainable behaviour, but it helps people understand howlittle things we do can have an impact on the environment and human health.

c. Demonstrating progress on issues like idling can also open doors for more fundamentalchanges needed to address climate change and air quality issues in the future.

d. Not idling will save us money, let us breathe more easily, help spare our climate and airand also reduce engine wear and tear.

We will provide further information in a presentation format to allow council to provide input asto a suitable process to use to move this initiative ahead.

Dalton Stafford, P.Eng. Kingsford Amoah, M.Sc., EITProcess Administrator Infrastructure Engineer


7/33

Tow ard an

Idl e-Free Cit y

Taking Action to Reduce Vehicle Idling

Dalton Stafford, P.Eng.

Process Administrator

&

Kingsford Amoah, M.Sc., E.I.T

Infrastructure Engineer

Acknow ledgemen ts

Idle-Free Zone:

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/autosmart/idling/

Climate Change Central

Outline

Reasons for Taking Action

Possible Action Plan

Creating Awareness

What Others Have Done

Strategy To Move Forward


8/33

Reasons for Tak ing

Act ion

Its a perfect issue for us, amunicipality, to demonstrateleadership in the Community.

Turning off the engine is asimple easy act for us to do.

Model for Urban

Environmental Management

Selective

Compliance(with regulat ions,

pol icy)

Sustainable

Development(balance environment social economic)

Ecosystem

Management(basis is city as

ecosystem)

Present Desired

Why Idl ing Is a Problem(Should We Care?)

Idling our vehicles:

Produces negative impacts onthe environment

wastes fuel and costs usmoney; and

is not good for vehicle engines


9/33

Possible Act ion Plan

Lead by Example

Create awareness internally;

Demonstrate benefits;

Expand to community.

JustTu

rnItO

ff

Canadians Idl ing Habit s( Is i t Me?)

Most idle 510 minutes a day.


10/33

If Lethbridges drivers avoided

idling for just five minutes, wewould:

save 3.0 million litres of fuel;

save $2.1 million (at $0.70/litre); and

prevent more than 7300 tonnes of

CO2 from entering the atmosphere,

per year.

I t c an be done

w ith the turn o f a key

Id l ing Myt h No. 1

The eng ine shou ld be

w armed up be fo re d r iv ing


Idl ing is good for your

engine


11/33


Shutt ing of f and restart ingyour vehic le is hard on the

engine and uses more gas.

Ex per ienc e of Others

Anti-Idling Control Policies

Edmonton, Calgary, The Region of

Waterloo, Kelowna

Idling Control By-laws

Toronto, London, Mississauga

Idling Control Policies

and By-laws

Stra t egy to Move

Forward

Step One

Work-Based Initiatives

Step Two

Community Awarenessand Outreach


12/33

I t s Up to Us!

We need to create the

awareness

Together we can make a

difference!

Thanks

Stra t egy to Move

Forward

Step One

Work-Based Initiatives

Step Two

Community Awarenessand Outreach


13/33

Objectives:

Generate awareness of the idling

issue;

Reduce the duration and frequency

of idling among City employees; and

Enhance the Citys climate

protection initiatives.

Work -based Ini t iat ives

Pre-Campaign Survey

Idling Vehicle Count

Historical Fuel Consumption

Data

Basel ine Stat is t ic s

Presentations and Meetings Personal Contacts and

Communications

Information Dissemination Tools

Distribution of Information Cardsand Vehicle Stickers

Corporate-wide Anti-idlingContest

Educat ion and

Awareness


14/33

Ant i -Id l ing Tool k i tReady-to-Use Graphics

Ant i -Id l ing Tool k i tCampaign Mater ia ls

Post-Campaign Survey

Follow-Up Idling Vehicle Count

Trends in Fuel Consumption

Campaign Evaluat ion


15/33


16/33

LETHBRIDGE

SPORTS BIDCOMMITTEE

2003 Report

The Year

Updated Terms of Reference

shared with other communities

Research on Sport Councils

Representation on new Cultural Wellness Centre

Steering Committee

Representation on Regional Training Centre proposal

Canadian Sport Tourism affiliate

Council re-appointments

The Year

Met with organizers of Rocky Mountain Challenge

Bid for 2007 Western Canada Summer Games

Bid for 2005 Special Olympics Alberta Provincial Games

Assisted with bid for 2005 U17 World Hockey Challenge

Assisted with bid for Baseball Canada Cup

Consultation with Athletics Alberta


17/33

The Successes

U-17 World Hockey Challenge

The Successes

Special O Bid

Looking Ahead

CSTA split membership with LCVB

CSTA Congress Ottawa

Track and Field Facility Research

Newsletter

Marketing Plan

Practicum Student

Update and Computerize PDF

Sport Policy Development

Website Development

Bid Hosting Support


18/33

Looking Ahead

A Stadium for

LethbridgeCommunity Stadium Complex


19/33

The document was completed as a pdf and distributed to Sports Groups.

It has bee a valuable source of information for subsequent bids, but has

not functioned as we had hoped for direct preparation of Bids. Needs to

be updated- re: new facilities, more information on some venues ie: court

sizes, field sizes etc, and new hotels need to be added.

Terms of Reference were amended- changed in accordance with

parliamentary procedure underMEETINGSto Meetings will be

continued in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

These Terms of Reference were asked for by the people in County of

Strathcona to use as a model for creating their own Bid Committee in

October/03


20/33

Lori did extensive research on forming a Sport Council. She was

informed that other communities are moving in the same direction of

forming Bid Committees, and that it was advisable to continue to

develop in the direction we are already moving.

Deb Marek assisted the Bid Committee in developing the Lethbridge

sports Bid Committee Marketing Plan 2001-2002:

1. Re-establish the Purpose and Make up of the Bid Committee

2. Improve the Image of the Committee and crate relevant packages of information

3. Increase the Awareness of the Committee and establish communication with Sport

Groups of Lethbridge

4. Pursue the Hosting of events and Tournaments in Lethbridge

5. Seek Partnerships in Development of Hosting Opportunities

6. Develop Evaluation Strategies for Bids and Hosting Events


21/33

October 2000 Bid Committees went to Council with proposal to bid for

2003 World Junior Hockey. Cost was considered too high to pursue bid.

Two members of the Bid Committee LCVB attended 2002 Congress in

Ottawa. LCVB attended 2003 Congress.

Bid Committee (arranged by LCVB) met with organizers of Rocky

Mountain Challenge- multi day mountain bike race. Determined not to

be practical or even do-able from Lethbridge- needed a mountain/cross

country course.


22/33

2002 Bid Committee/LCVB worked with organizers re: hotels, grants,

and volunteers

2002 Worked with organizers re: hotels.

Met with Mayor to Discuss the citys economic development, regarding

hosting events.


23/33

May 27, 2002 Address by mayor. Facilitated by Jim Day. Presented

Lethbridge Highlights.

Started September 2002- Bid Tour May 2003. Went to council four

times, developed the Bid and hosted the Bid Tour. Awarded to

Strathcona County.

Gary is sitting on the steering committee for the development of the

Universitys new 25 million dollar wellness centre.


24/33

Lori and Carol sitting on proposed regional training centre.

Gary wrote a letter to Ed Fetting early in the fall. Had a metting just last

week re: funding, etc.

Conference call in June to John Jacobson with Athletic Alberta.

Determined that we need a track in Southern Alberta. Would open up

many major competitions- Bid Committee to plan strategy to pursue

track.


25/33

September 11, 2003: Ald. Shaun Ward and Joe Mauro were appointed as

the City of Lethbridge representatives, after a short hiatus without

representation.

Worked with Deb Brigley and her committee. Successful bid for Dec/Jan

04-05

Worked with Kevin Kvame and his committee on bid for event. Event

was awarded to Medicine Hat for 2005-06. Lethbridges bid was strong

and we are working with the committee to secure the event in the future,

possibly as soon as 2007.


26/33

Developed and delivered bid October 31/03 Bid Tour December2.

Decision will be made end of January 2004 for summer 2005 Special

Olympics Games.


27/33


28/33


29/33

The objective of the Bright Lights Festival committee is to

establish, organize and hold an annual community social event

that symbolizes the start of the Christmas season in Lethbridge.

The entire community is invited to the Galt Gardens and the

downtown to participate in a Christmas themed event, filled with

family-oriented activities and performances. The main focus of the

event is to create a unique, attractive and festive atmosphere that

utilizes the Galt Gardens as its focal point. The lighting anddecorating of trees, buildings and storefronts is one of the main

objectives of the Bright Lights Festival committee.

2002 TRIMMING THE TREEIn 2002, over 600 Grade 3 students built ornaments

that were hung on the official Bright Lights

Christmas Tree. One lucky student was picked to lightthe tree at the kick off of the Bright Lights Festival.


30/33

2003 TRIMMING THE TREE In 2003, over 150 beautifully decorated

ornaments were hung by City of Lethbridge

Parks Department employees. Grade 2 and 3

students decorated the ornaments that were

hung on the official Bright Lights Christmas

Tree.

2002 GALT GARDENS ACTIVITIES

Approximately 2,500 people attended the successful inaugural Bright Lights Festival. Families were

treated to free hayrides, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, popcorn, cotton candy, helium balloons, live

music and a visit from Santa. The majority of trees in the park and on downtown streets were lit up

with help from private donations, corporate sponsorship and the City of Lethbridge.

2003 GALT GARDENS ACTIVITIES

That Balloon

Guy donated his

services to the

event by creating

balloon

sculptures for

children for the

entire evening.

McCallums

Saddlery was on

hand again to

provide hayrides

and as the

official

transportation

for Santas

arrival.


31/33

A TRUE COMMUNITY EFFORT!The community contributed to the

success of the inaugural Bright

Lights Festival in a variety of ways.

Donations in the form of cash, lights

and volunteer time were important

elements of the events success!

Contributors were recognized on the

Bright Lights Festival Display Tree.

The Lethbridge Food Bank, Toys

For Tots and the Warm HeartsCampaign were also on hand to

receive donations from people

attending the event.

Mr. Harvie Davies

was recognized for

his donation of a 25

ft. Blue Spruce that

was the centerpiece

for the tree light up.

His tree also used to

display the 600+

hand-made beaded

angel ornaments

A TRUE COMMUNITY EFFORT! Businesses and rganizations

such as the Penny Coffee

House, Movie Mill, Wal-

Mart, M&M Meats, London

Road Neighborhood

Association and the Tuba

Christmas musicians and

singers contributed to the

success of the 2003 Bright

Lights Festival.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

CANADIAN EXPRESS CLOGGERS

JUGGLER -NIALL McKENNA

TUBA CHRISTMAS

MUSICIANS &

SINGERS


32/33

SANTA KICKS OFF THE EVENTThe arrival of Santa

signaled the start of the

Bright Lights Festival.

Santa was welcomed by

Master of Ceremonies

Doug Anderson (95.5

FM), Mayor Tarleck and

Senator Joyce Fairburn.

WINDOW DISPLAY CONTEST24 businesses participated in the contest. Displays were

judged by a committee made up of media and City Council.

- The Candy Station

- LA Gallery Design Studio

- Zephyr Impressions

- Great Garb Boutique

- Mums Chocolates

- GG Petite

- Merle Norman Downtown

- Greens Shoe Store

- Fraches Flowers

- In-Scents Expressions

- Once Upon A Bride

- King of Trade

- McGuires Mens Wear

- Round Street Gallery

- Adams Book Corner

- Dove Christian Supplies

- Glass Slipper Bridal Shop

- Calman Dress

- The Shoe Tree

- Treasures n Treats

- Balloonabrations

- Professional Optical

ECONOMIC SPIN-OFFSThe Midnight Madness event,held in conjunction with the

2003 Bright Lights Festival,

was a huge success with

downtown merchants.


33/33

Adopted by By-law #4183 on April 5, 1988

4.2.2. OBJECTIVE: TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF

AN ATMOSPHERE OF DYNAMISM AND VITALITY IN THE

DOWNTOWN.

If downtown is to be viewed as the heart of the City and is to help

create an identity for Lethbridge, it would be appropriate to

develop an annual social event which centers in the downtown.

Such an event should have a unique theme, and perhaps should

be held during a period of the year when more unusual or unique

activities can occur i.e. winter or early spring.

DOWNTOWN AREAREDEVELOPMENT PLAN

Documents

Caroma Letter