News Leader News for February 12, 2008
CFC ANNOUNCES GRANT PROGRAM
The Princeton and District Community Forest Corporation (PDCFC) is pleased to announce that it will be accepting applications for the 2008 Grant Program.
In 2007 eleven not-for-profit organizations shared in over $295,000 in grants from the PDCFC.
"Building on the success of the past two years, the Board of Directors is excited about the opportunity our grant program will provide for not-for-profit organizations in Princeton and Area OH' of the Regional District. We look forward to receiving this years applications," said Corporation Chair Randy McLean.
"We are also excited about our capacity building program we are introducing this year. The Board of Directors places a lot of emphasis on leveraging dollars and we believe our capacity building program will assist applicants with leveraging the PDCFC financial contributions."
The capacity building program will include a two-day workshop that successful applicants will participate in.
The workshop will provide an opportunity for the non-profit sector and their volunteers to gain valuable skills in developing budgets, preparing effective grant applications, leveraging financial contributions and running a successful organization.
The program is free of charge. Workshop dates will be announced.
The Princeton and District Community Forest Corporation offers grants to recreational and cultural organizations to assist in their capital projects and operations. The corporation receives Grant applications annually and organizations can apply for major funding (>$5,000) or for minor funding (<$5,000).
In 2007 the forest corporation distributed $295,000 to eleven organizations. To be eligible for these grants, organizations must have the mandate to provide recreational and cultural services and/or facilities in Princeton or within Area OH' of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen.
Grant applications, along with guidelines and details are available at Princeton Town Hall, 169 Bridge Street. For more information call (250) 295-3135.
- submitted
NOTES FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Business smiles on airport
Councillor Ray Jarvis reported to Town Council on February 4 that fundraising is underway to support development at Princeton Airport. Councillor Jarvis told Council the committee has begun approaching local business people for donations, and the business community appears to be in favour. One businessman had already given $1,000. All business people will be asked, and private individuals can contribute as well. Want a Grant? Take the course!
The Princeton & District Community Forest Corporation is not happy with the lack of leveraging done by those groups who have received grants from the corporation. At the February 4 Town Council meeting, Mayor Randy McLean said, "The Community Forest Corporation is pleased with what is done with the grants, but not pleased with leveraging not done to secure grants from other sources."
Mayor McLean announced a one day free workshop for groups applying for $10,000 or more in grant money from the Community Forest Corporation. The workshop will teach applicants about all of the funding agencies and how to access grants from them. Applicants will be trained in how to prepare a grant application to government.
Any group applying for a grant of $10,000 or more MUST send a representative to this workshop. Groups applying for a grant of less than $10,000 may send a representative if they wish, but it is not a requirement.
For more information, contact Town Hall. Mayor says "We're all concerned"
Mayor Randy McLean addressed the health care crisis at the February 4 Town Council meeting, saying, "We're all concerned, we're all working as hard as we can."
Mayor McLean said almost every day is spent trying to solve the doctor crisis. The committee is working with Dr. Douglas Reid, Dr. John Adams and Interior Health. The Health Authority has launched an expensive advertising campaign across Canada and overseas, Mayor McLean advised.
"Better than criticism or blame, we need to show the world that this community is solidly behind our efforts," Mayor McLean said. Council plans water route
The Town of Princeton has applied to own a small portion of the TransCanada Trail which is currently Crown land. The purpose of the application to own the land is to put a water line from the industrial park to East Princeton at some point in the future.
Mayor Randy McLean expressed concern about the length of time it would take to have the land transfer approved, and was relieved to find it would likely take no more than four months. Council wants pub hearing
The application for a new location for the Brown Bridge Pub came before Town Council on February 4. Although Town Council was in favour of the new location, they decided that property owners in the vicinity of the proposed location should have an opportunity to express their feelings at a public hearing.
The new location is 271 Vermilion Avenue, formerly the property of Mikado Restaurant. Council will hear concerns from neighbouring property owners located within a 50 meter radius of the location. The date of the hearing will be advertised. Council supports better crossing lights
The pedestrian controlled lights at the intersection of Burton Avenue and Highway 3 have proven inadequate. Princeton Accessibility Awareness Committee petitioned Town Council for support for improvements to the crossing.
The control switch for the present lights cannot be reached by a person seated in a wheelchair, and the committee believes there should be some kind of auditory alert to tell visually impaired pedestrians when the lights are on.
Some members of Town Council noted that traffic is not stopping even when the lights are on, making passage unsafe. Councillor Pam Jones commented that the lights are too high and too small. Councillor Jim Manion agreed. What Council would like is red and green lights, as well as an auditory alert for the visually impaired. Council plans to discuss the matter with Highways Department regional supervisor. Council adopts strata bylaw
At the February 4 Town Council meeting, Council adopted a bylaw which will allow for the development of strata titling at Riverside Motel. The owner can now proceed with the improvements required to meet present building code, and prepare for sale of the cabins which have been motel units and will later be owned residences. Jones is the whole team
Councillor Pam Jones is going to be Town Council's entire team in an activity challenge. None of the other members of Council wished to participate in the Activity Challenge for South Okanagan civic officials.
Councillor Jones will wear a pedometer daily and record the total number of steps she took each day.
Councillor Jones and CAO Patrick Robins compared notes on pedometer readings. Councillor Jones said she had taken 11,000 steps on February 4. Robins said he was surprised to have taken 5,000 steps just taking a walk around downtown Princeton.
MAYOR SPEAKS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Over the past few years affordable housing has become a concern in Princeton, in previous times vacancy rates were high, there were a large number of units available and low rental housing was not a problem.
The years of high vacancy rates that resulted in low rents also contributed to an accumulating deterioration of building standards. Over time rents simply did not keep up with increasing utility and maintenance costs and buildings deteriorated.
Building inspection officials inform us that many rental units are in dire need of upgrading and improvement. The onset of strata developments across the country is the result of the landlord-tenant act whose rules make landlords unable to catch up on lost rent raises and afford proper maintenance and safety expenses.
The town is at a result faced with a dilemma. While affordable housing is a necessity, it is also absolutely essential that building improvements and maintenance standards are at a level that guarantees the health and wellbeing of the residents. As a council, while we remain concerned and compassionate of those less fortunate, lessons in the recent past have proven that we simply cannot compromise on the issue of safe standards. When Council was approached by a developer who would renovate the building and ensure it's safe future we were unable to rule against that restoration of standards.
Clearly, both short and long term solutions need to be found that address both affordable housing and adequate safety and maintenance standards.
It should be made clear that long term solutions must by necessity involve both the federal and provincial governments. The mandate of municipal governments is to collect taxes primarily for community infrastructure, water, sewer, roads, parks, recreational facilities and the like. The responsibility for hospitals, schools and other social facilities fall under the federal and provincial jurisdictions who collect taxes for those purposes. How can we ask homeowners struggling to pay monthly mortgages and annual taxes to fund major long term social housing projects?
Having said that, we can contribute land and services wherever possible, we can negotiate with upper level government and we can petition and encourage them to do the right thing. While Council is presently involved in this process, we are aware that this will not resolve our immediate concerns.
In the short term Council did have some options, through the issue of the strata development on the Angela Apartments we will be able to ensure that standards were upgraded and regulated for the foreseeable future. Upgraded apartments will be available to investors to buy and rent out with a number of reliable tenants readily available, equities can be created while helping out with community rental accommodations. As well the developers agreed to: 1) offer tenants only, the ability to buy their unit, as is, with no upgrading costs, with a price reduced by up to $23,000. If tenants buy they will receive an additional $1,500 for new appliances which will be installed for them. As the building is going to be remodeled, their investment should immediately increase in value; 2) extend the 1-3 month normal vacate notice to 9 months for the remaining 11 tenants; 3) extend the 1-3 month normal vacate notice on up to 4 apartments to 18 months, and; 4) install an elevator which will create handicap and senior accessibility throughout the building.
In conclusion, these difficulties are arising because our community is healthy and growing, many investors are wanting to become involved locally, making even more important the need to do effective planning for safe and affordable housing.
- Randy McLean, Mayor
Town of Princeton
