Valemount Council Notes
Mayor Owen Torgerson, councillors Hollie Blanchette, Sheri Gee, Donnie MacLean and Pete Pearson met on July 9, 2019 for their regular council meeting. Staff Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Robinson, Deputy Corporate Officer Carleena Shepherd and Planner Megan Vicente were present.

Public Hearing for Retailing Cannabis
Vicente made a staff presentation as part of the public hearing for Zoning Bylaw 801 to permit retail stores for cannabis. After 2 public surveys and an open house, staff suggested permitting a maximum of two retail cannabis outlets in Valemount in commercial zones C1, C2, C4 and C6.

Staff are working on an application and licensing process for any retail cannabis store. There would be a public hearing for each retail application. There were no written or verbal comments for the public hearing.

Public Comments
Rashmi Narayan suggested that council consider talking to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for a bus service between Valemount and Kamloops, while pursuing one to Alberta.

UBCM Ministerial Meeting Requests
Council ratified the 2019 UBCM Ministerial Meeting requests that they worked on at the June 27 meeting as a Committee of the Whole.

Use of Village Tent
Council waived tent rental fees be waived for the Valemount Public Library for their ‘Magic Show’ event on July 23, 2019.

Cannabis Retail Bylaw
Council gave third reading to the Zoning Amendment Bylaw 801 that permits retailing cannabis in certain commercial zones with restrictions.

Council Reports
Council met as a whole on June 27 to discuss the UBCM Ministerial meeting requests and the issues to discuss with them. Blanchette, Gee, Pearson and Torgerson attended the Veterans’ Dinner at the Legion on June 28.

Councillor MacLean attended conference calls as part of the Columbia Basin Local Government Committee to discuss recommendations for treaty negotiations. She attended a Clean Air Task Force meeting.

Councillor Blanchette also attended an in-camera committee meeting on June 26 and a signage meeting with the Chamber.

Councillors Gee, Pearson and Mayor Torgerson also attended the Scleroderma Walk and Canada Day celebrations.

In-Camera Item
There was one in-camera item related to negotiations for the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at its preliminary stages.