Here are details from the Aug. 22 council meeting:
The evening's proceedings opened with a moment of silence for the passing of federal opposition leader Jack Layton, whom Mayor James Atebe noted had also been a long-serving municipal politician in Toronto.
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The Mission Seniors Centre Association plans to celebrate the United Nations International Day of the Older Person with a week-long calender of activities between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1. Highlights include an art exhibit and tea party held Sept. 29. The mayor issued a proclamation honouring the event.
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Further to the International Day of the Older Person, president of the Mission Seniors Centre Association, Frank Sleigh, gave an eloquent speech. Here are some excerpts:
"We've put our backs into the creation of our community, from creature comforts to culture. We've laboured to produce another generation. We've fought a war or two to preserve our existence and our values.
"I won't name their names. They are on street signs. They are recorded in the membership lists of OAP Branch 28 and Legion Branch 57, and in the membership lists of service clubs and recreational societies, of churches and aboriginal communities. They came from near and far and chose a hill overlooking the Fraser River as their home."
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First Avenue is getting a new three-storey commercial-residental development at the former site of Syd's Place, which was destroyed by a fire in 2005. Full article is available in the Aug. 25 edition of the Mission Record or online at http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/missioncityrecord/news/128272078.html.
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Mission has added two more drive-thrus, despite a bylaw that bans them, with approval of a shopping centre development at the intersection of Highways 7 and 11. Full article is available in the Aug. 25 edition of The Mission Record or online at: http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/missioncityrecord/news/128281783.html.
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Council has granted a temporary permit application for a development at the southeast corner of Cedar Connector and Seventh Avenue, the site of Mission's old courthouse. Full article is available in the Aug. 25 edition of The Mission Record or online at: http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/missioncityrecord/news/128274893.html
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Council has approved a rezoning of the corner lot at Israel Avenue and Nelson Street from suburban residential to allow a secondary dwelling. Neighbours opposed the rezoning, telling council they bought property in that neighbourhood specifically because the zoning would keep the area low-density. But the applicant, Loren Goertz, appealed to council's compassion, saying he needed the dwelling for his adult children who cannot afford to buy their own home.
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A request by the Fraser Health Authority for reimbursement of $686,000 in Development Cost Charges (DCCs) for the Mission Community Health Project received a thumbs down from staff, but that doesn't mean there aren't still options. Council asked staff to prepare a full report on the implications, financial and otherwise, of trying to help Fraser Health surmount these financial challenges without compromising the municipal coffers.According to staff information provided to council, "there is a shortage of DCC funds to build critical infrastructure, requiring the District of Mission to use internal loans to cover these projects. Granting back the value of DCCs for this project would put additional strain on our ability to fund capital projects, including DCC projects. We also have no available funding source to refund or donate back building permit fees."