New Westminster city council meetings aren’t exactly a ratings grabber for Shaw TV.
In fact, viewership of city council meetings is so low that the actual viewer count can’t be measured, says a staff report to council.
Shaw TV recently announced it was closing its community television stations in Metro Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton in August and would be partnering with Global News to provide enhanced local news coverage across the region, states a staff report. Shaw TV has shown council meetings live on Monday nights and rebroadcast the meetings later in the week.
Mayor Jonathan Cote and senior staff recently met with representatives of Shaw TV and Global News to discuss council meeting coverage. Shaw officials stated its viewership had declined by 75 per cent since 2011. As Shaw prepares to cease showing council meetings, the city is working with its live-streaming provider to enhance its online services.
Serving up booze – in Pier Park
A pilot project will gauge the impacts of serving liquor in Westminster Pier Park.
Council recently approved a motion to partner with the Arts Council of New Westminster to provide four licensed events as a pilot to evaluate the impacts of liquor service and consumption in Westminster Pier Park and to inform future direction for licensing options.
A staff report states that updates to Liquor Control and Licensing Act have relaxed regulations related to liquor service and consumption, including allowing municipalities to choose where liquor may be consumed.
The Arts Council of New Westminster is producing the Music by the River series, which features live music at Westminster Pier Park on Thursdays in July from 5 to 8 p.m. The city’s parks and recreation department will obtain the special event permit and manage the service of beer and wine from Eats at the Pier, the city’s concession in Pier Park.
A staff report states there has been “significant interest” in Westminster Pier Park by outdoor concert-promotion companies and the pilot events will help the city evaluate ongoing beer and wines sales at the park.
Birds land in New West
A new piece of public art is roosting in the Royal City.
Birds on a Branch by artists Jacqueline Metz and Nancy Chew is now located on the Front Street parkade. The piece depicts a flock of songbirds resting on branches.
“New Westminster has always supported local artists, our creative sectors and worked to elevate our city’s reputation as a leading arts and cultural destination,” said Mayor Jonathan Cote in a press release. “As we look toward fulfilling New Westminster’s riverfront vision, which aims to connect people to the riverfront, Birds on a Branch serves as a unique and exciting destination which will draw residents and visitors alike.”
The artwork, woven into the chain-link canvas of the parkade, measures about 660 feet long and 25 feet tall.
“The City of New Westminster has been working towards transformation of our riverfront over the past few years and this art installation is an important part in bringing back a sense of place and creatively to an area of our downtown that has been overlooked for years,” said Coun. Mary Trentadue, a member of the public art advisory committee. “I am very proud to see this project realized and look forward to this flock of birds joining the neighbourhood.”
Money in the bank
New Westminster is retaining its temporary bylaw – just in case money is needed for future projects.
A civic facilities, road maintenance and park development loan-authorization bylaw approved in 2012 allowed the city to borrow up to $59 million. The initiative came about as part of a plan to finance construction of Anvil Centre and the office tower.
“The city has borrowed $30,300,000 under this LA (loan authorization) bylaw and repaid $14,175,000, leaving $16,125,000 outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2016,” said a staff report. “A loan-authorization bylaw will expire five years after adoption of the bylaw unless a temporary borrowing bylaw is enacted.”
Noting that the city has some projects in its current five-year financial plan that may require debt financing, staff recommended that council approve the civic facilities, road maintenance and park development temporary borrowing bylaw to keep its borrowing capacity.
Noisy nights in downtown
Downtown residents may notice more clanging and banging near SkyTrain in the coming weeks.
Council has granted Degelder Construction an exemption to the city’s construction noise bylaw to allow it to work from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. between July 24 and Aug. 31. The exemption will allow the company to install a protective canopy over the SkyTrain guideway – something that can only be done when SkyTrain isn’t operating.
“Degelder Construction has committed to keeping noise to a minimum and is cognizant of the adjacent residential properties,” said a staff report. “Degelder Construction has solicited the same sub-contractors for Tower 4 as was used on the other phases of Plaza 88 development, ensuring that every sub-contractor is not only aware of the technical challenges but also mindful of the neighbourhood aspects of this work.”
Seeking support for homelessness plan
New Westminster will be seeking support from other municipalities for a resolution aimed at addressing homelessness.
After receiving a staff report that analyzed the results of the 2017 Metro Vancouver homeless count, council directed staff to report back with a resolution addressing some of the factors contributing to the recent increase in homelessness in New West and the region. The city will forward a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities for consideration at its annual conference in September:
* That the UBCM urge the provincial government to work collaboratively with the federal government to place equal emphasis on homelessness prevention and crisis response, to increase funding for housing outreach, referral and advocacy series, and to provide additional funding to address addictions and mental health.
Multicultural Festival gets more cash from city
The Philippine Festival Society received additional funds from city hall to host the Multicultural Festival at Westminster Pier Park on Canada Day.
Council approved a request for $4,500 in additional funding to the society to host the July 1 event, having previously awarded the group $6,000 in cash and $2,500 in city services for this year’s event. The decision to provide the group with more fees came after the city’s festival committee met with society representative on March 28.
“The society informed the committee that the request was largely due to price increases across the board for performer fees given that performers were in great demand on July 1 due to the celebration of Canada 150,” said a report to council. “The society further informed committee members that without the additional funding they would not be able to host the Multicultural Festival on July 1 at Westminster Pier Park.”
Residents grateful for street paving
Oakland Street is great – and grateful.
Mark Fox, a resident of the 100 block of Oakland Street, appeared before council in February to urge the city to repave the street that’s been deteriorating for 30 years.
“As of May 24, the 100 block of Oakland Street is truly great,” he told council June 12. “It’s a real street, properly paved for the very first time, I think.”
Fox thanked the city for repaving the street and told council they would be invited to a “paving miracle” block party this summer.
“I came by the street. It does look pretty good. It is definitely an improvement over the past conditions,” said Mayor Jonathan Cote. “One of your neighbours with little ones sent me a picture of the kids for the first time being able to ride their scooters on their street because it was now properly paved.
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