Council is looking for volunteers for an Economic Development Advisory Committee for the City of Grand Forks.

We’ve made detailed information available with regard to the policy which was adopted by Council at the Regular Meeting of November 7th, 2011, which defines the purpose of the policy to establish an Economic Development Advisory Committee with Terms of Reference.

Purpose:

To establish An Economic Development Advisory Committee with Terms of Reference.

Policy:

1. Purpose of Committee:

The purpose of the Economic Development Advisory Committee is to assist and advise Council and Staff on matters pertaining to sustainable Economic Development and Tourism including but not limited to the following:

• Maintaining a comprehensive economic development plan;
• Work on strategies for advancing economic development within the City which facilitates community sustainability in areas of business attraction, expansion and retention;
• Collaborate with other Community Stakeholder groups to establish economic development and tourism common goals/practices for the good of a sustainable community;
• Assist the city in building appropriate relationships with regional stakeholder groups, provincial government ministries and provincial agencies for the good of a sustainable community.

2. Scope:

Due to the broad nature of the advisory committee, members will be required to have a general knowledge of economic development, tourism and community sustainability principals.

3. Advisory Committee Membership:

The Grand Forks Economic Development Advisory Committee shall be appointed by resolution of Council and will be comprised of:

• One (1) City Councillor (and 1 alternate)
• Seven (7) public members

4. Term of Office:

Public members appointed on a three (3) year calendar rotation by resolution of Council expires December 31st in the year;

• 2012 – 2 public members
• 2013 – 2 public members
• 2014 – 3 public members

Public members shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms unless no one is re-appointed by direction of Council. Council members may be appointed annually. Council may request the resignation of any Committee member at any time or if a member misses four (4) consecutive meetings. Any member of the Committee may resign at any time upon sending notice to Council.

5. Chairmanship:

Chairperson shall be elected annually by members of the Committee at the first meeting of the year and shall remain in the chair for their term.

6. Meetings:

Meetings will be set monthly, day and time to be set at the first meeting of the year.

7. Budget:

The Committee will develop a budget that will be presented to Council for inclusion in the 5 year financial plan.

8. Remuneration:

Citizen volunteers will serve without remuneration.

9. Administrative Authority:

Chief Administrative Officer

If you are interested in volunteering for the Economic Development Advisory Committee, Contact Us today!

Date: Monday, November 7th, 2011

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Council Chambers at City Hall

Council is looking forward to your questions and feedback in regards to:

Why the West End Fire Flow Protection (Referendum question – Bylaw 1922) is the City’s #1 Priority?

How the City is addressing the aging infrastructure (sewer pipes, water pipes and roadways and the impact to the health and safety of our community) (Referendum question – Bylaw 1923)?

What is Asset Management and why it is the right thing to do?

If you haven’t had an opportunity to attend the previous outreach sessions or other information venues, we look forward to seeing you there!

If you have attended other sessions and have other questions and comments, please do come again, or Contact Us about your questions or comments online!

Council is available to meet with members of the public who wish to discuss the upcoming borrowing referendum questions which will be posed to eligible voters for the City of Grand Forks on November 19^th, 2011 in conjunction with the 2011 Municipal Election.

These referendum questions are the basis for the Asset Management Program which the City has currently undertaken to sustain the City’s aging sewer pipes, water pipes and roadways.

There will be members of Council available at the following times at City Hall to provide information and answers questions:

• Date
• Time & Info

• October 13th
• 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

• October 14th
• 10:00 am to 11:45 am

• October 17th
• 9:00 am to Noon

• October 18th
• 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

• October 19th
• 10:00 am to Noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

• October 20th
• 9:00 am to Noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

• October 21st
• 9:00 am to 11:00 am

• October 24th
• 9:00 am to 11:00 am

• October 25th
• The Mayor is available by appointment

• October 26th
• OPEN HOUSE AT CITY HALL from 10:00 am to Noon
  OPEN HOUSE AT STUDIO B (old Gazette Bldg) from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm

• October 27th
• 10: 00 am to Noon and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (In addition, the Mayor is available by appointment)

• October 28th
• 10:00 am to Noon – The Mayor is available by appointment

Council urges the public to attend the open houses and/or drop by for a visit during the above times shown.

Download “PUBLIC OUTREACH INFORMATION SESSIONS” document!

Date: Saturday, October 15th, 2011

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: City Park Senior’s Centre

On October 15th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the City Park Senior’s Centre, Curtis Braaten, from Haskap Central Sales in Henribourg, Saskatchewan, will be speaking on his extensive knowledge and experience in growing Haskap.

His association with Dr. Bob Bors from the University of Saskatoon, a leading developer of production cultivars, will afford all those interested in the opportunity of visioning a ground-level opportunity for Grand Forks and Area. Stay tuned to your local news media for more.

Okay, everyone, pull out your HB pencils and put on your tinfoil thinking caps. Here is this month’s “Pop Quiz”:

1) Have you every heard of the Honeysuckle plant? Yes? Excellent. They are of the genus, “Lonicera” and there are many varieties grown in gardens and as ornamentals throughout the Boundary.

2) Have you ever heard of the Haskap berry? Hmmm…I see…not as many. Haskap berries come from varieties of Honeysuckle native to Siberia and northern Japan. Able to withstand temperatures of -40C, these hardy plants produce large, purple berries that ripen before strawberries, have a distinctly unique flavour, and are packed full of yummy goodness.

3) Were you aware of the potential to locally produce Haskap berries commercially? If you are but thought that was an awkward way to put it – you still get full points. If you aren’t, then you may want to attend an upcoming information session sponsored by the City of Grand Forks.

Gallery 2, as host, for this year’s event, was abuzz with several participants to this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Evening. The Gallery staff provided excellent refreshments to a “full house” of attendees and a great time was had by all.

The City of Grand Forks introduced the newest “Freeman of the City”, Jock and Betty Ann Mackay (photo shown left). By unananimous vote of Council, this title was conferred on the Mackays. They were presented with a plaque from the City of Grand Forks which was witnessed by numerous family and friends who attended this momentous occasion.

Congratulations to Jock and Betty Ann Mackay on receiving this honour!

The Mayor and members of City Council read biographies and introduced those volunteers who were nominated as this year’s recipients:

• THE HIP SISTERS
• JOSHUA CARON
• GRAND FORKS PIPES AND DRUMS
• LES FOLLES JAMBETTE-CAN CAN DANCERS
• LINCOLN FORD
• KEN FLAGL
• TED INVICTUS
• ZAK EBURNE
• SHAWNA SCHUH
• SHIRLEY SCHUH
• CLIFF SCHUH

Congratulations to all of this year’s nominated volunteers who contributed their time and talents to our fine community.