Our regular council meeting for this week went by fairly quick once we completed the Public Hearing part (see previous report here). The Agenda was fairly light, and started with the following items moved On Consent:

Balai in the Borough, T115-805 Boyd Street – Application for Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement
The operator of this restaurant wants to have entertainment (karaoke) along with their meals which requires a different type of liquor license which requires the local City Council to pass a resolution supporting it, because our provincial liquor laws are archaic and ridiculous. Council approved the resolution.

Temporary Use Permit: 102 – 128 East Eighth Avenue and 721 Cumberland Street
The owners of these properties at 8th and Cumberland received approval to build townhouses recently, and no wish to use one of the existing single family homes as a sales entre to market those townhouses. A marketing centre is not in the single family zoning allowable uses, so we are issuing notice that we will consider a temporary Use Permit. IF you have feedback, let us know!

The following item was Removed from Consent for discussion:

Update on FIFA Budget and Activities
Council previously approved funding to hold community-building and gathering events along with public viewing parties during the upcoming World Cup. I know there are a lot of concerns about FIFA and the sketchy way they exploit communities and athletes, but the Beautiful Game is as popular in New West as any other, and there can be no doubt people are excited to see Canada play, and for many people in our community to see the nation of their ancestors represent (sorry, Italy).

There are going to be a great series of events here in New West –reasons for you to get together with the community, meet your neighbours, and cheer on some Football.

June 6: the Kelly Duke Memorial Tournament will feature fun for youth, a bouncy castle, food trucks and beer garden, and start off the World Cup Season with locals flair;
June 12: Watch Canada play against Bosnia at Queens Park Arena – rain or shine;
June 18: Watch Canada play against Qatar at the Queensborough Community Centre, along with a Queensborough Neighbourhood Connection Party;
June 24: Watch Canada vs Switzerland (that might be a tough one!) at Queens Park Arena;
July 19 Watch the Tournament Finale at two different locations in New West – Queens Park Arena if you want to be indoors, Pier Park if outside is more your thing.

Staff are also saving a bit of resources and money on the hopes that Canada advances out of the Group Phase, and will hope to be able to provide further viewing opportunities to meet community expectations.

The good news is that we have secured senior government grants (sponsorships are strictly regulated by FIFA and are largely unavailable, grumble grumble) to cover a lot of these costs, and much of the budget goes towards purchasing things (like screens and projectors) that can stay in the City’s inventory and help us provide lower cost community events in the future. We also provided 38 grants of $1,000 each to a variety of community arts, cultural, and sport organizations to get them Fired Up about Football.

All the details are here: www.newwestcity.ca/fired-up

And we finished our meeting with Bylaws for Adoption:

Heritage Revitalization Agreement (1121 Eighth Avenue) Bylaw No.8550, 2026 and
Heritage Designation (1121 Eighth Avenue) Bylaw No. 8551
This Bylaw that will permit construction of a new ground-oriented infill house and a duplex, with all new units providing three or more bedrooms, while permanently protecting the 1909 Callow House on the same lot was adopted by Council.