The City of New Westminster is monitoring the snowpack in the Fraser River Basin in preparation for the freshet of 2012.
Given the amount of snow in the Fraser River Basin, staff believes there is a potential for flooding in the Fraser River Basin as the snowpack melts.
"A plan has been prepared in response to this issue," said the report. "The snowpack will be monitored and work will continue according to the preparation plan until either the risk has reduced or additional measures are deemed necessary."
HEALTH CLINIC PROPOSED
A health clinic including a kidney dialysis clinic is being proposed for Royal City Centre.
Royal City Shopping Centre. Ltd. is seeking a development permit application to allow the Fraser Health Authority to establish a health clinic at the mall.
A preliminary report to council indicates that a new elevator on the north wall of the mall facing Princess Street is being proposed so dialysis patients would have direct access to the clinic.
"Most clients of the dialysis clinic will arrive by HandiDART bus," stated the report. "Therefore, a HandiDART loading zone is needed adjacent to the proposed elevator. The loading zone will require the removal of some of the existing landscaping and relocation of the existing sidewalk."
Staff will review the proposal and report back to council after a technical review and community consultation are complete.
RESIDENTS GET KUDOS
Royal City residents should be "applauded" for their waste diversion efforts, says a staff report to city council.
According to the report, waste diversion rates in New Westminster are among the highest in the region, having increased from about 31 per cent in 2009 to 40 per cent in 2010 with the introduction of automated waste and yard and food scraps collection.
"After a full year of the program, single family residents have achieved a diversion rate of 59 per cent in 2011," said the report.
"It is anticipated that diversion rates will continue to rise with Phase 2 of the automated program, bringing New Westminster closer to the regional diversion target of 70 percent."
In an effort to meet solid waste goals, the city is developing new initiatives such as expansion of multi-family and school food scraps programs.
DEGELDER EXEMPTED
Degelder Construction has received an exemption from the city's construction noise bylaw so it can carry out work above the SkyTrain station when the trains aren't running.
The work will be done on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from March 3 to April 1, between 2 and 6 a.m.
"The development is at the stage where it is necessary to carry out additional construction work over portions of the adjacent SkyTrain guideway," said a staff report.
"In particular, the canopy over the station is being extended and a pedestrian bridge is being installed over the guideway."
CHURCH LOOKS TO BUILD
Calvary Worship Centre is seeking to rezone 260 12th St. so a church can be built on the downtown site.
The city has received an application to rezone the site to allow a 32,850-square-foot church to be built.
The applicant is proposing to build a church that includes a sanctuary, multi-purpose hall, foyer, offices and classrooms.
Currently zoned as light industrial district, the site is used as a church.
The city's official community plan identified this area as being medium-to high-residential density with some street commercial in the lower portion.
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