Chilliwack, BC – Chilliwack City Council is back to business with a full slate now that 2016 is in full swing.
The agenda included information received on the city’s massive Trail Network Plan. The idea is to connect almost 100kms of existing and proposed trails. Councillor Sam Waddington says there are some fantastic trails already in place, all the city parks department has to do is the major connection.
Then there is open air burning. With the November 2015 wind storm, that shortened the burning season. So the plan is to start earlier this year. The recommendation that Council approve extending the Spring 2016 burning season from February 15 to May 15, 2016, and shorten the Fall 2016 burning season to October 1 to 31, 2016.
Councilors Kloot, Waddngton and Popove all expressed concerns about burning and that chipping should be an alternate past 2017, but the 2016 burning season will be a necessity. Mayor Sharon Gaetz noted that there were 287 burning complains last year. Mayor Gaetz would like to see the $25 burning permit fee be increased. Tickets for breaking the burning by law range from $250 to $10,000.
A public hearing on medical Marijuana re farm-side edge planning be put to a public hearing on February 2.
Finally the minutes of the the Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting held December 10, 2015 was received for information to council, but nothing was said about the recent passing (January 15) of the latest information deadline of the white paper on special events for farms, and in particular, farm weddings..
The full council agenda including the recommendations are here and starts on page 23.
