Highway #3 Coalition Minutes of July 30, 2009 - Rdosmaps.bc.ca

HIGHWAY 3 MAYOR’S AND CHAIRS’ COALITION MEETINGHeld Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 11:00 amPrestige Mountain Resort, Rossland, BCPresentMayor Cindy Corrigan, City of FernieMayor David Wilks, District of SparwoodChair Norman Walter, East Kootenay Regional DistrictMayor Brian Taylor, City of Grand ForksMayor Griff Welsh, Village of MontroseMayor John Irwin, Crowsnest Pass, AlbertaMayor Walter Despot, Village of KeremeosBill Newell, Regional District Okanagan-SimilkameenChair Dan Ashton, Regional District Okanagan-SimilkameenMayor Lawrence Chernoff, City of CastlegarMayor Patrick Hampson, Town of OliverMayor Stu Wells, Town of OsoyoosMayor Ron Toyota, Town of CrestonMayor Dieter Bogs, City of TrailChair Marguerite Rotvold, Regional District of Kootenay BoundaryCouncillor Gord Derosa, City of Trail / RDKBCA Diana Thomas, Boundary SimilameenMLA John Slater, Boundary SimilkamenMayor Greg Granstrom, City of RosslandMayor Randy McLean, Town of PrincetonGuestsIntroductionMurray Tekano, Jeremy Zandbergen, Wayne Fraser, BC Ministry of Transportationand Infrastructure.Mayor Greg Granstrom, Rossland, BC, opened the meeting with introductory andwelcoming remarks at 11:04 am.MLA John Slater, Boundary Similkameen, provided a history of the Highway 3Coalition and explained that the Coalition meetings are held to discuss issues ofcommon interest with respect to the Highway 3 corridor from Hope through to theBC/Alberta border.DiscussionHope/PrincetonFly OverDiscussionDiscussion ensued regarding issues of concern, safety and general deteriorationof the highway. Suggestion by Mayor Dieter Bogs, Trail, BC to fund a socioeconomicstudy to be used in obtaining funding for projects along the corridor.Mayor Bogs informed the coalition that the City of Trail is predicting an increase intruck traffic due to a proposed E-Waste facility in the area.Presentation from Randy McLean, Mayor of Princeton, fly over of the HopePrinceton Highway and discussion of the benefits of expanding sections of thehighway to 4 lanes.Safety issue documentation, data collection and reports available from the Ministryof Transportation, the impact on Highway 3 since the toll being removed from theCoquihalla and information available through the trucking industry, were all topicsof conversation discussed during the meeting.

Hwy. 3 Mayors and Chairs Coalition Meeting – July 30, 2009 Page 2Hwy. 3PrioritiesThe priorities identified by the group are as follows:1. Sunday Pass, Highway 3 from Princeton to the East Gate of Manning Park(unanimously voted as the #1 priority for improvement).2. Passing lanes between Cranbrook and the Alberta Border3. Alternative route through the downtown core of Creston4. The Elko chicane5. Requisitioning of a socio-economic study6. Partnering with Mayors along the Highway 3 corridor in AlbertaElection ofCoalitionChairsAdministrativeAssistantSocioeconomicStudyProvincialGov’t MeetingsThe Coalition nominated and voted on the Chair position. Lawrence Chernoff,Mayor of Castlegar and David Wilks, Mayor of Sparwood were named Co-Chairsof the Coalition.The Coalition agreed that in order coordinate efforts a part time contractedadministrative assistant should be hired. Letter to be sent out to all Municipalitiesand Regional Districts along the corridor requesting payment of 30 cents percapita annual contribution. Chair Chernoff to coordinate this process.Chair Wilks will be coordinating efforts with Community Future Offices along theHighway 3 corridor to commission a socio-economic study.Co-Chairs in conjunction with the main body of the coalition to co-ordinate andprepare for meetings with Provincial Government bodies.Press Release City of Rossland to immediately send out a press release regarding the July 30,2009 Highway 3 Mayors’ and Chairs’ Coalition meeting.AdjournmentMeeting adjourned at 2:07 pm._____________________Corporate Officer