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1. Call Meeting To Order. The Regular Meeting of May 8, 2002 was called to order at 7:10 p.m. 1A. Roll Call. Present was Helen Smith, Pam Blackburn, Patrick Rouble and Malcolm Taggart. Approximately 20 observers. 2. Amendments To Agenda. Changes to the agenda: Add announcement of By election, Update on Army Beach Land Use Plan, and Treasurer's Report. Motion # 1. Motion by Pam Blackburn to accept amended agenda. Second by Helen Smith. Vote: Unanimous. Motion # 2 Carried. 3. Adoption Of Previous Meeting Minutes. Minutes of the April meeting were read by Secretary Helen Smith. Motion # 2. Motion by Helen Smith to accept the minutes with the following amendments. Change word “inform” to “notify”. Strike line about sending letter to YTG about Townsend's resignation. Second by Pam Blackburn. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 2 Carried. 4. Guest Speaker Brian Ritchie, Dept of Land Planning, Community Services, YTG to discuss latest proposal for residential lot development on M'Clintock Valley Road. Mr. Ritchie presented 3 new proposals for the land development on M'Clintock Valley Road. Sketches show the area divided into 5, 6, or 7 lots, sized from the minimum lot size for country/residential of 2 ha to 4.6 ha. A request was again made by Chair Taggart that any further development be put on hold until after the Marsh Lake Land Use Plan is completed. Mr. Ritchie replied that his department could wait, but would like this area set aside for development. He expressed that the Land Use Plan would have to look at the “Big Picture” and identify areas for future growth and development. Residents of M'Clintock Valley Road brought up additional concerns about the development, including the handling of public information about the land transfer. On December 23, 1998 a land transfer notice announcement was placed in the Yukon News, which allowed the public until January 7, 1999 to respond. This is considered poor timing, being over the holiday season and allowing only minimal time for response by residents. Residents have been unanimous in not wanting this development, but are left feeling they have no say or choice in this decision, and only the opinions of the Dept of Land Development are being considered in the decision. Mr. Ritchie's reply was that the land is suitable, and that ag leases are compatible with country residential lots in other areas. One resident of the Valley Road brought research showing that in 2000, LARC had turned down an application for a 2.75 ha country/residential parcel for many of the reasons being presented as allowable under this new land development. LARC considered 2.75 hectares too small a parcel of land, and suggested a 30 meter setback from the centre line of the road, not the 15 meters proposed now. Mr. Ritchie allowed that different departments within YTG do not share information and that he was unaware of this land application. There also remains the road issue, since the Valley Road does not meet minimum standards, and the entrance to the subdivision from the highway is an especially bad intersection, on a blind corner within meters of the M'Clintock River Bridge. Mr. Ritchie suggested residents look into the Department of Transportation's Rural Road Upgrade Program. Residents again pointed out that they would suffer from a loss of lifestyle if this land development were to go through. The proposal itself is currently hurting Agricultural Lease farm plans. Motion # 3. Motion by Helen Smith to write a letter to Mr. Ritchie's Dept again asking him to suspend any further work on this land development until after the Marsh Lake Land Use Plan is completed. Also, concerns brought up by residents would have to be addressed. Second by Patrick Rouble. Vote 4 in favour. Motion # 3 Carried. 5. Discussion of Lot Extension Application for Sipple, Lot 36, South M'Clintock. Councillor Pam Blackburn got copies of this application to each neighbour with the exception of one who was away in Asia. There was no opposition to this lot extension, and of the two options presented in the application, neighbours chose Option A. Both options would keep a walkway open for the public. Motion # 4. Motion by Pam Blackburn to write a letter to LARC stating that there was no opposition to this application and, pending discussion with the absent neighbour, the LAC also approves of Option A. Second by Helen Smith. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 4 Carried. 6. By Election Update. Returning Officer Marg Dunn reported that she has posted notices for the nomination of a Councillor for Ward 5. To date she has received only one nomination application. The deadline for nominations will be May 16 at 12 o'clock noon. Criteria for eligibility was read and it was announced that nomination forms were available from Marg Dunn. 7. Army Beach Land Use Plan Update. Pam Blackburn reported on the status of the Land Use Plan. She noted that it was decided to rate each access on its own merits and conclusions will be put in writing and made public shortly. 8. Treasurers Report. Treasurer Patrick Rouble reported that the January to December 2002 budget was $8,400.00 not 9,000.00 as previously recorded. Adjustments were made to compensate for this reduction. Rouble also reported that an audit is a requirement according to YTG. Tentative inquiries revealed an audit of LAC books would cost approximately $4,000.00. Motion # 5. Motion by Helen Smith to accept the revised budget for January to December 2002. Second by Malcolm Taggart. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 5 carried. Motion # 6. Motion by Pam Blackburn to obtain a quote for an audit of LAC books and include it in a letter to YTG asking for an increase in the LAC's yearly grant to compensate for the expenditure. Second by Helen Smith. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion #6 Carried. 9. Report From the Chair/ Correspondence. Chair Taggart announced that an information session for the Marsh Lake Land Use Planning would be arranged for one evening the last week in May, with a guest speaker from YTG. Correspondence: -The LAC received a cheque form the Yukon Fish & Wildlife Enhancement Trust Fund for $300. to be put toward a permanent base for the Judas Creek Wetlands Signage. -An announcement was received from the Army Beach Land Use Study Steering Committee about the May 1 public meeting. -A letter was received from Mr. Belisle, Superintendent of Maintenance & Planning, Dept of Transportation with an update on the Highway Rest stop & Outhouse/Garbage Can issue. Garbage cans will be placed at both boat ramps along with 'no camping' signs to discourage overnight parking. His department has consulted the Marsh Lake Community Society about Outhouses at M'Clintock Place. The outhouse at M'Clintock River boat ramp will receive a 'low profile storage tank' due to problems with the water table. A day use sign and a sign announcing that a fully serviced rest stop is a short distance away, will be placed before the highway pull off at Km 1426.5. Also, due to safety concerns, the pull off on the west side of the highway will be removed this summer. -The LAC received copies of 3 letters written to the Marsh Lake Community Society answering their concerns about land in Army Beach and M'Clintock Valley Road being set aside for recreational use. -Chair Taggart talked to ALARC about the continuing application for an Ag lease across from New Constabulary. He was informed that concerns could be dealt with at the FetLAC level. -A report on the groundwater monitoring at the Marsh Lake dump was received. It was noted there was no contamination in any of the test samples. -A copy of a survey done by R.G. Regan & Associates of Port Moody, B.C. was received, concerning Mosquito Development Sites in the Marsh Lake area. It was noted that the YTG pesticide permit does not allow larvicide's to be applied to fish bearing waters or tributaries. Also, in 2001 the Mosquito Control Program covered a total of 475 hectares in 9 communities across the Yukon. Effective recommended coverage in the Marsh Lake area alone would be approximately 250 hectares, and would have an impact on existing program resources. Motion # 7. Motion by Pam Blackburn to respond with a letter to Georgi Pearson of the Community Operations Branch thanking her for the copy of the survey and their offer to review the issue, asking to be informed of the results, and can Marsh Lake look forward to Mosquito Control in the future? Second by Helen Smith. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 7 Carried. -Marsh Lake resident Haley Argen received a letter from NorthwesTel informing her that the issue of making Marsh Lake to Whitehorse phone calls local dialling was an issue before the CRTC, and recommended contacting them. The LAC is presently in the process of sending a letter to NorthwesTel and the CRTC in support of Argen's petition. -A letter was received by Carcross Tagish First Nations concerning participation in the Marsh Lake Land Use Planning process. Motion # 8. Motion by Helen Smith to reply to the CTFN thanking them & welcoming them into the Land Use Planning process. Second by Pam Blackburn. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 8 Carried. 10. New Business. -Firesmart Program funding deadline is June 15. Patrick Rouble will check with the ML Fire Rescue Society to confirm if an application had been sent in. -The AGM Conference for the Association Of Yukon Communities will be May 9 – 12. A discussion at a later meeting should occur as to whether Marsh Lake should go to the expense of joining. Motion # 9. Motion by Pat Rouble that the LAC inquire to the AYC as to what the benefits of joining would be and what costs to the LAC there would be. Second by Helen Smith. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 9 Carried. Motion # 10. Motion by Helen Smith to send a letter to Yukon Liquor Corporation about a recent renewal application for a liquor licence at an establishment in Judas Creek. Also, remind them of the May 2001 letter which they have never responded to, which requested the LAC be informed of any applications within the Marsh Lake area. Second by Pam Blackburn. Vote: 4 in favour. Motion # 10 Carried. 11. Adjournment. Motion # 11. Motion by Helen Smith to adjourn meeting. Second by Pam Blackburn. Vote: All in favour. Motion # 11 Carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:38 PM. |
