Winter Games construction
The Kin Centre enhancement project is more than halfway complete and on track to be completed by the fall, according to community services staff.
More than $8 million has been spent on the renovations, which include modern change rooms and spectator seating for Kin 1 and Kin 2, updated washrooms and user group office and storage space.
"As we transition into dry floor use, the spring and summer user groups and customers have all be accommodated with minimal disruption to their normal operations," said a staff report to council.
Work on creating the Canada Games Plaza at the Civic Centre is also underway, with a contract awarded to Vancouver's van der Zalm & Associates for the conceptual design work.
Tax rates up for approval
Council is set to finalize the 2013 property tax rates. The recommendation from the committee of the whole is to set the estimated representative home increase in line with the budget hike of 3.5 per cent and reduce the major industry rate to $46 per $1,000 of assessed value.
One per cent of the city's budgeted levy increase is to set up a new general infrastructure reinvestment fund. The bylaw establishing that reserve fund is up for final approval during Monday's meeting along with the city's five-year financial plan bylaw.
Community enhancement
A city's advisory committee is recommending council approve $8,000 worth of spring community enhancement grants.
"These matching grants help to get grassroots projects off the ground using volunteer labour and in-kind services," wrote committee chair Linda Self in a report to council.
Supported projects include community family nights, Halloween fireworks and community gardens.
Another $8,000 will be distributed in the fall.
Public hearing
The floor will be open Monday for the public to say their piece about an application to build a Shoppers Drug Mart and drive-thru business on the Hart Highway between Madill and Austin Roads.
To make that happen, council will have to discharge land use contracts in place since the 70s that restricts the land use to a pool hall, sale or storage of pool hall equipment and other non-commercial recreational uses.