June 14 2010 Council Meeting – LakePlacid Blow-by-Blow
Jun 16th
As promised, a blow-by-blow of the LakePlacid/RiverLanding portion of Monday’s (June 14, 2010) City Council Meeting (I’d call it a debate, but that would be overly generous to the pre-determined order of events…). All events are presented to the best ability of my notes and memory. Direct quotes are presented where I was able to adequately record them during the council meeting:
Mayor Atchison introduced the Memorandum of Sale and asked if the City Administration wanted to add anything to their (vague) report, GM Totland declined with a shake of the head.
The Mayor attempted to begin hearing the list of 10 speakers, but Councillor Paulsen jumped his gun by rising to ask Administration some questions.
Councillor Paulsen asked for an explanation from Administration why November 1st, 2010 was selected as the deadline, suggesting that it should be moved up well ahead of that time.
GM Totland replied that Administration was directed by the Executive Committee (likely in one of their many closed door meetings on this issue) to set the date without coming back for direction. He further indicated that they had asked Mr. Lobsinger to set that date. He indicated that November 1st was suggested as a “worst case scenario”, but that More >
We Get Press Clippings – Star Phoenix Letter
Jun 15th
Today the Star Phoenix kindly published a letter-to-the-editor that I submitted last Friday. The crux of the letter focuses on the recently completed Transportation Demand Management study received by City Council last evening, and the news media’s focus on one of the hundred or so recommendations.
In my letter I attempt to bring context to the recommendation that parking rates should be increased in the downtown core. Here is the letter as printed in the Star Phoenix:
For the record, here is the letter as submitted:
A LITTLE CONTEXT PLEASE! City Council will be receiving a consultant’s report that details how to better manage our transportation system, including walking, cycling, parking, and bus service.
Within that report are over 100 recommendations that, if implemented as a whole, will assist the City in providing a better system to its residents.
The report recommends hiking rates in prime locations to encourage higher turnover, while another recommendation suggests providing increased parking at lower rates on the edges of downtown. Finally yet another recommendation instructs the City to ensure that walking, cycling, and buses are easily accessible for that short travel into the heart of downtown.
If implemented together, these recommendations will result in increased parking downtown, more shoppers More >
Chief Whitecap Park Master Plan (finally) Comes to Council
Jun 14th
After two years of consultation and stakeholder meetings, the City Administration will finally be bringing the Master Plan for Chief Whitecap Park to Council for final approval.
In a city deficient in off-leash areas for dogs (with most parks on the outer-edges of the City), Chief Whitecap Park (CWP) has been a mecca for dog owners for the past 6 odd years. Located just south of the City Limits along the South Saskatchewan River the road leading the the CWPs north entrance is packed with cars, people, and their dogs every weekend and, to a lesser extent, during the weekdays. The sprawling park is also heavily used by bird watchers, mountain bikers, hikers, runners, nature lovers, horseback riders, and others alike.
Formed in response to the City’s plan to develop CWP, the Recreational Off-Leash Owners (ROLO) formed a few years ago and now boasts a membership level of hundreds. ROLO was able to secure a spot at the stakeholders table during development of the CWP Master Plan, though not without their own controversy, were able to ensure that approximately 80% of the park remained accessible to off-leash dogs, including access to the River – a favourite spot of overheated dogs, owners, and non-dog owning More >
Majority of City Council Preparing to Surrender to Lake Placid
Jun 10th
In a fairly stunning turn of events, it appears that yet another chapter of the Lobsinger/LakePlacid/RiverLanding saga will be written with another chapter yet to come.
A quick recap of the chapters from the past few months:
- In August 2009 City Council voted to extend (again) the deadline for Lake Placid to meet the requirements of the sales agreement for Parcel ‘Y’. At that time Mr. Lobsinger told council he was “one signature away” from fulfilling that important requirement.
- On October 31st, 2009 the deal between Lake Placid and the City was officially null and void when Lake Placid failed to deliver full payment for Parcel ‘Y’ (approx. $4.8 million). At the following City Council meeting the City Administration was instructed to undertake a new Request for Proposal process, including a re-assessment of the value of Parcel ‘Y’
- On April 12, 2010, Mr. Lobsinger along with his new partner, Mr. Nasser of Victory Major, came to City Council requesting that they revive the null and void deal including all original terms and purchase price (approximately $4.8 million)
- On April 26, 2010, City Council approved (9-1, with Councillor Clark the lone nay vote) a recommendation by Administration to re-enter into negotiations with More >
Ground Hog Year: Council Agrees to another deadline with Lake Placid
Jun 15th
Posted by Sean Shaw in City Council
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Last night City Council voted 8-2 in favour of re-entering into a sales agreement with Lake Placid for Parcel ‘Y’.
Under the new agreement Lake Placid has until November 1st, 2010 to provide proof to the City that it has the financing available to build the estimated $50-60 million parking structure and building footings. If this can be demonstrated the City will close the land sale deal, formally transferring the land title to Lake Placid.
There are a few changes from the original agreement that are of interest:
1. Deadline extension:
The language following section 3.01 (which sets out the Nov 1 deadline) appears to give the City the unilateral right to waive the deadline condition (bold my emphasis). Under the previous agreement, Lake Placid had to approach the City (which was done publicly on 3 occasions) to ask for an extension of the deadline. The wording in the new agreement suggests that all the City need do is waive the deadline condition, meaning that the deal could be left in place indefinitely.
“The foregoing condition precedent is for the City’s sole benefit and may be waived,unilaterally by the City, at tile City’s election. Determination of whether Lake Placid has fulfilled the condition precedent shall More >