nearly November, city council and staff retired to
the hotsprings for their annual thinking session.
For department heads, was an opportunity to
make their first pitch for budget dollars in 1993 as
_ weil as outline their long term goals.
Following those staff presentations, council had a
. private session to mull over what they'd heard and

put forward some ideas of their own on where the

city should be heading both in the short and long
term.

Below, a summary of some of the conclusions
they reached and closer look at a couple of ideas
that emerged from under council's thinking cap.

Cure for cash flow itch?

Thoughts

Bdow a summary of dect-
sions made by council at the
Thisk Tank session:

ae
| 1993 City Budget
f MAINTAIN the same level
of srvice and expenditure as
199 ; fexcept for increased
Wage costs and inflation on
malétials.

"i yl Street upgrading

* DO NOT go ahead with
2sjyeat paving program as
proposed.

;PREPARE a priority list
for, road projects bearing in
initd. which areas need im-
proved drainage.

; \ LOOK into upgrading Eby
aid Walsh in stages.

cee.

aries

| ¢ Contracting Out
{*[REVIEW all °93 capital
ae projects separately with

ain -of giving administration
‘“‘gléar direction’? on contract-
ing oul.

Fire department
* SET UP a fire prevention
program in the city.
* CONSIDER hiring a fire
prevention officer, a new posi-
tion at the fire hall.

Building Inspection

* CONSIDER increasing de-
partment strength by one full-
time equivalent position.

* PRIORITY to be given to
building, inspection services,
secondary emphasis on by-law
enforcement on half time basis.

: Animal Shelter

* PREPARE a detailed
report on what features needed
in new shelter.

* SHELTER to be built ad-
_[jacent to Rotary Park, con-

spring or 1223,

-* FIND best method of
financing shelter construction
without going to referendum or
taking on long-term debt.

Recreation
* DRAFT a parkland dedica-
tion policy for new subdivision
developments.

_ Community Lottery
* INVESTIGATE legality of
city running its own scratch
atid win lottery, proceeds to fi-
nance communily projects.

- Economic Development

* EXPANSION of tourism
related business to be the main
focus for the E.D, department.
* CONTINUE to promote Ter-
race as a regional centre for
business activity and a variety
of services. (Mining has been
dropped from the list)

Recycling
* END rent subsidy lo the
recycling socicly.
* CITY and regional district
share $15,000 cost of putting
together a plan to establish
recycling on a regional basis.

Native Land Claims

* INVITE Nisga’a Tribal
Council representatives to
meet with council to discuss
the land claim treaty process.

* WRITE to the federal and
provincial governments
demanding municipalilics be
regularly consulted at all
slages of the selilement pro-
cess,

sirubtion: projected to start lit |’

TERRACE -- The provincial
coffers are swelled every ycar by
lottery money, so why not the
cily’s bank account as well?

That’s the thinking behind
alderman Rick King’s suggestion
the city have a Scratch and Win
lottery ofits own.

King made the proposal at
council’s recent ‘Think Tank’
session held at Mount Layton
Hotsprings.

Pointing out government policy
changes had removed the chance
of lottery grants, be said that
meant moncy was leaving the city
every day of the week ‘‘and we
don’t get any of it (back),’’

A local scratch and win would
be a way of tapping that same
moncy directly from the com-
munity to be used on communily
projects.

While conceding the concept
would need the support of people
here if it was to succced, King
said knowing the money raised
would be staying in the com-
munity would likely help.

And although the small market
meant it would not be possible to
match the prize dollars offered by

Assuming an expenditure of
$10 a month on tickets by each
houschoid in the city, King
estimated more than $30,000 a
month could be generated, less
prizes of course. ;

“That adds up,’’ he pointed

out.
’ And while it wasn’t going ta be
enough to finance major projects
like an arena, it could be used to
provide a financial boost for a
number of small ones.

The extra moncy in tum would
relieve some of the pressure on
taxpayers, King added.

However, he admitted, it was an
unfortunate state of affairs when
the cily had to look to something
like a lottery for needed cash.

‘We'd have to pilot it and see
what the response was,’ King
said, emphasizing the city was
still in the early stages of check-
ing the feasibility of the idea.

There’s also the question of
whether B.C. Lotteries will even
allow the city to break in on its
gambling monopoly.

Administrator Bob Hallsor said
ithe branch’s verdict is expected
sometime carly in the New Year.

Rick King

B.C. Lotteries, buyers might be
attracted by the increased chance
of winning.

Also worth considering was of-
fering specific prizes in place of
the usual smaller cash ones of-
fered by the provincial tickets.

For example, merchants might
be persuaded to donate items or
the city itself could put up some-
thing like a family pool pass.

NOT YET, but the city could one day be urging residents to buy Terrace’s own Scratch and Win
ticket if the 8.C. Lotteries branch approves an idea which came out of council's recent Think Tank.
Although the branch turned down a similar suggestion several years ago by then-alderman George

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 16, 1992 - Page AS

Clark, current alderman Rick King says the rules would allow this type of lottery.

Contracting out to be

eyed, but not definite yet

TERRACE -- Before agreeing to its own public
works department carrying out any °93 road im-
provement projects, council wants to be convinced
the job can’t be done better and/or cheaper by an
oulside contractor,

That, explains alderman Danny Sheridan, is the
thrust of a council resolution which requires all
next year’s capilal works projects to be reviewed
separately before approval.

It does not, however, necessarily mean the cily is
going to make a wholesale switch to contracting
out, he added.

Sheridan explained the pointed ‘Think Tank’
recommendation is the result of an apparent mis-
understanding arising from discussions during
finalizing this year’s capilal projects budget.

He and colleagues Mo Takhar and Darryl Laurent
had been under the impression it had been agreed
the city was going to carry oul a lest this year on
the merits of in-house versus contracting out.

The idea was onc capital project -- the Kenney St.
uperade was the one they had in mind -- would be
put out to tender to see what, if any, difference
there was between public work’s cost estimate and
contractors’ bids.

However, Sheridan noted, that did not happen be-
cause city staff had decided there was “‘no clear
direction from council to do that.’’

The formal adoption of this recent resolution was
intended lo ensure ‘no misunderstanding this
time,’’ he said.

Sheridan said council’s decision to review all cap-
ilal projects went back lo the Halliwell Ave. up-

grade project. ‘Frankly, we were not convinced the
cily did it very well,” he recalled, referring both to
the time it took and an apparent lack of co-
ordination on various facets of the project.

Last year’s experience with the repaving of
Lazelle had been better, but there was still a feeling
it was “top notch’’.

And while admitling public works had done a
‘pretty good job’? on Kenney SL, be pointed out it
is difficult for council to know if the costs it is
given by staff accurately reflect the real cost of a
project.

That was because management time -- the time
spent by slaff working on the project -- did not get
costed into the job.

And that staff time would be reduced because
contracting out would reduce their role to that of in-
spection and signing off.

However, Sheridan re-emphasized, council could
look at all the proposed 93 projects and decide
none of them should be contracted out. It all
depended on what projects it decided to go ahead
with next year.

It would also be necessary to abide by provisions
in the city’s contract with its Canadian Union of
Public Employees employees which required the
cily lo prove a clear case of the cost effectiveness
of contracting out.

Sheridan also pointed out any decision to contract
out would not affect permanent employees. That’s
because the city hires on extra workers for the road
construction season and lays them off each fall.
“Ti’s seasonal employment,’’ be added.

LETTERS

She fell in love
with this heaven

Dear Siri

There I was coming in for a
landing into Terrace, B.C.

The pilot was steady, the
stewardesses were smiling, and
then [ looked out the window,
the mountains!

The were just right, not too
high or too low; they were just
right, What a sight! The trees,
the valley, the landing.

Instantly 1 loved this “‘little
heaven’’. As I settled here for
a year so far, I leamed my way
around the town. There was
something different about this
place. The people! So con-
genial, helpful, smiling. There
was love!

Alter traveling many years as
my husband worked for the
airlines I chose to live out my
last days here. Everyday when
I go to town I see the same
people and they always wel-
come me into their shops and
always a smile.

In all my travels [ met

wonderful people, but to me
Terrace people, are the best!

You see also young couples
with their children more, The
fathers helping out their wives,
holding the babies etc. and
children, putting their arms
around their wife.

Teenagers, asking how you
are when walking and always a
smile, respecting their elders.
What a wonderful place this is.
And when you must part, they
say have a nice day.

Always 1 feel they have
leaned in life to simplify.
Simplify as Henry David
Thoreau wrote.

Was it happy medium in all
things made them this way? I
think so.

When I must or aced to shop,
the managers, the clerks, the
people help. I can’t say enough
how good they are! .

Sincerely
M. T. Celine
Terrace, B.C.

Turning garbage
into useful items

Dear Sir:

I read with sadness the article
‘Recycling Depot Clases’
(Dec. 2, 1992) at the loss of
this resource 10 {the com-
munity, and yet with no sur-
prise at the final chapter. Rent
of $23,000 a year is impossible
without subsidies.

The Skeena Valley Recy-
cling Socicty has proven that
recycling must be conducted
through the vehicle of landfill
sites under the auspices of a to-
lal waste management plan.

Regional district and the City
of Terrace landfill sites lend
themselves perfectly to becom-
ing recycling depots now that

_ they are staffed. Simple sheds. ,
could be erected to house

recyclable materials vulnerable
to weather.

Community wide vegetable
waste could casily be pro-
cessed into compost (equip-
ment seeded: one loader) with
the product being sold back to
the community ata profit.

Incentives to dumpers for
separating out garbage could
go a long way toward increas-
ing the volume of recyclable
inaterials.

Transportation of recyclables
to the lower mainland was in-
evitably going to break the

bank. The town council ard
regional district should have
begun to encourage the use of
these materials locally.

Orenda has not been required
by local councils to build a
recycling component. Alcan
docs not take aluminum.
Eurocan does not take paper,
nor does the kraft mill in
Prince Rupert. Wood waste is
is not accepted: by the local
chip mills.

The question is why not. Lo-
cal government has failed its
citizens by not insisting on
rules regarding recycling gov-
erning industrial activity in the
region.

e lo-

_ Glass is, a marvelous. any, 4

stance, easily recycle

cal councils should encdtitage” F

the development of new indus-
try — glass blowing or com-
mercial bottle production, with
Terrace being a centre to
which the north’s recycling op-
eralions send their materials.
By 1995, the new waste

management plan must be
drawn up by the regional dis-
trict. J say Ict that plan be an
enthusiastic approach to ex-
ploiting these resources 10
create jobs locally.

Maureen Bostock,

Usk, B.C.

A sound idea
for next Nov. 11

Dear Sir:

This is an answer to
Margaret Cooper’s Dec, 2,
1992 letter ta the editor.

Speaking for myself as a vet
and as a Legion member, my
opinions are my own and not
those of the Legion.

When the wreaths are being
laid at the cenotaph, it is dif-
ficult even for those in front to
hear what is going on.

A speaker system should be
set up for this occasion,

As for the young people
being allowed to sland in front
of the Legion members, this
would be even worse, There
are 50 many of them that we
would end up in the mall park-

ing lot!

Also, there is no need to have
every club and organization
laying wreaths al this time.

They should be placed at the
cenotaph prior to =the
ceremony. This would
eliminate some of the un-
necessary delays.

I do nol wish to criticize the
Legion members who work
very hard to put this ceremony
on each Remembrance Day. It
takes up a Jot of organizing
and I think they do an cx-
cellent jab.

Don Cooper,

Terrace, B.C,

(No relation to the
writer of the original letter.)

The Terrace Standard welcomes letters to the editor. We ask that
they be signed and a phone number be included. Letters are sub-

ject to editing for reasons of len

letters are thrown away.

gth and for good taste, Unsigned

Ti he: Start is for people
learning how to.read.

The ‘Terrace

with young children.

food.

A help

Anti-Poverty Group
Society got a boost last week. It got food
and toys to give to needy people.

They came from students at the college.
Those students are learning how to work

The man in the picture is Paul Burton.
The three women are Gwyn West, Carrie
Harris and Tina Daye. They are three of
the 26 students who gave the toys and

There are lots of people who help other

ing hand

people at Christmas. You can give money
to the Salvation Army. You can put it in
their kettles, These are at the Skeena Mall

and at the liquor store. They are there Fri-
day nights and on Saturday.

The Salvation Army will give out food

the highway.

hampers. This starts next, Monday.
They are being given out: at -the old
bingo hall.-This is beside the Sandman on

The Salvation Army will have a supper

‘for single people on Christmas Day...

were TY ee ewer re a a