The news according to realtime edits on Wikipedia. This week's notable edits include: 1) Realtime coverage of EgyptAir flight 870's disappearance, 2) a warning to be careful when making a bed so as to not get your limbs caught in your ceiling fan, and 3) a discussion of microbiotics... I mean microbotics... I mean microrobotics. Source: www.listen.hatnote.com
https://www.mixcloud.com/cfurvolunteer/wikinews-may-19-2016/
The UNBC Bored of Governors approved the budget for 2016/2017. The votes was 8 in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions. The opposition to the budget came from a lack of clarity around the auxiliary part of the budget also some board members felt cuts should of been considered by UNBC administration. UNBC adjusted or dipped into some of their various funds in order to do a one time allocation which did balanced the budget. The budget prior to doing these allocations was in deficit due to falling enrolment numbers. One of the adjustments was the scholarship fund and canceling the contribution to the fund for 2016/2017. Not contributing to the fund would not affect students who have already be promised scholarships from UNBC. President Daniel Weeks reassured the Board of Governors that the scholarship fund is healthy and can sustain this lack on contribution.
In order to create the budget the UNBC administration conducted many town hall meetings and open consultation sessions with Senate, faculty, students and staff. According one of members of the Board of Governors this budget is one of the most detailed budgets that they have seen in a long time. The pledge for transparency that President Weeks made has led to a more detailed budget that included not just the operational part of the budget but also the reserve funds that are not important to the approval of the budget. The detail of the budget at times lead to confusion on the part of some of the members.
The one time cuts that were done this year will lead to a balanced budget but are not something that can be done again. The scholarship contribution will have to be made next year according to UNBC President Daniel Weeks. He is also optimistic and feels that with the aggressive recruiting strategies that the university is currently implementing that they will be able in increase enrolment numbers for the future.
UNBC is also in the process of creating an academic plan that will feed into the creation of future fiscal budgets. In order to create that plan UNBC is currently forming committees. These committees will look at ways that UNBC can move forward in the future these committees will be made up of students, faculty, staff and administrators.
By Grant Bachand (twitter) @grantbachand
Wild, not evil, this playlist oughta do the trick, whatever it is you're shooting for. Wear goggles though. Hubcap Walter is not liable for any benignly flawed or fatal organ transplants.
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The city of Prince Geoge City Council decided to approve CIF Construction and West Timber application to rezone property on Otway Rd. This was a very heated discussion but in the end the city decided to side with CIF Construction and Timber West.
The debate on this issue was highly contested by both sides. On one side the residents of North Nechako who felt that more industrialization in the area across the river from their homes would lead to lower quality of life. The arguments tended to focus on the air, light, water, and noise pollution that would come from the business that would move to the newly zoned property.
People who live in North Nechako are tired of attending meetings to fight to protect their neighbourhood. On May 12 some residents will go to a meeting to hear Pitman Asphalt plans to expand their operations that is also in the same area of the applicant.
One the other side the owners, employees and supporters of the companies Timber West and CIF Construction. They argued that by not approving this they would not be able to grow their business. The two companies had been in existence for a number of years and claim they had been in the area long before many of the residents who live in North Nechako.
After a long speakers list and 11-12 hours of council hearings the formal part of the hearing was closed and the city council began their debate on the issue. Like a parliamentary hearing the proponents for the project sat on one side of the aisle and the opponents on the other. People waited on baited breaths to see what their arguments would yield.
Murry Kraus sees this issue as very heated and knows though out his time in politics this was bound to happen. He did not support the application and knows it will make some very unhappy.
Terri McConnachie sees this as a collision on land use. She feels there is a need for a neighbourhood planning process. This application does not mean new industry is moving in to the area and people have still bought houses in the neighbourhood. CIF Construction and Timber West have "put their best foot forward." She supported the application.
Brain Skakun said when people made their presentations he really cut them slack for using a lot of time because many people were not accustomed to presenting. There is industry in the area but that does not mean more needs more is okay. The BCR industrial site is the proper place for light industrial and he does not want to see a piece meal application process in other areas. This is about a long term vision. Skakun did not support the application
Jillian Merrick felt that CIF and Timber West is an impressive company for helping grow the local economy. Merrick was very torn, the business has been there for a long time however she felt that the cumulative effect of pollution in the area would be problematic for the residents of North Nechako. Merrick voted against the application .
Albert Koehler some of the hearing became tense and not appropriate due to the presenters way of showing their opposition or support. The business in the old saw mill is extremely noisy especially if you live directly across from it according to Kohler, however business are more aware of neighbourhood impacts than ever before. We want our city to grow and be a city of growth and must accommodate business when possible, the point of a hearing is to decide whether that is the case with the current application. The berm should stop any noise that CIF or Timber West would make and the only noise left would be the already existing noise. However based on the information in front of him, he voted in favour of the application for the greater good of Prince George.
Susan Scott she does not see why this is was the "flash point it was." She did vote in favour of the application.
Garth Frizzell feels that we need to plan the river valley and should be something the city looks at for the future due to all the changes happening along the river. The information the city looked at was property values, pollution, OCP, industrial creep and so much more. After all the information was heard he was in favour of the application.
Lyn Hall says that planning along the river is needed and needs to happen for the future. He also voted in favour of the application.
So in the end some people walked away unhappy and some very grateful. One thing is sure planning along the river needs to happen for the future. As for CIF Construction and Timber West they will be moving to their new home and to expand their operations. No word yet if the residents of North Nechako will challenge the decision.
Tonight's episode, the final show of this regular season, is all about contrast: modern and traditional mostly. Have a listen to find out! Willie Campbell, Vishten, Seudan, Tartanic and more!
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Photo from City of Prince George Website
Things got a bit heated at city council on Monday when proponents and opponents spoke to L&M Engineering's application to have 6161 Otway Rd rezoned. The application would have the property rezoned to light industrial use, which is to the dismay of many residents of North Nechako. Last night's meeting was the second hearing about this application and it will go on to Wednesday May 11 at 6pm for a third session.
According to the residents of North Nechako the change would result in an increase of noise, water, air and light pollution. The residents kept reminding city council that the property sits above a delicate aquifer and having the property rezoned would increase the risk of contamination. Opponents made many presentations to city council ranging from the professional to the offensive. Mayor Lyn Hall had to reign in a couple presenters for use of antagonizing, or offensive language.
The proponents have stated that concerns to the project have been blown out of proportion. The area already has industrial business, and a CN rail line, that cause noise, air, and light pollution already. This according to the opponents existed in the area for years and in the residents don't like it they should not of bought in the area. Jack Fomenoff who is one of the applicants, stated that he "tired of the attacks" and made an off the cuff comment about possibly pursuing legal action.
By Grant Bachand (Twitter) @grantbachand
Photo by Jason Morris @JPols
Students from UNBC POLS 320 class presented the results of their class project at Monday's city council meeting. POLS 320 is a political science class at UNBC which focuses on teaching students how to conduct university level research in an applied fashion. Over the years the class has done various projects, this year they focused on voter apathy amongst youth 18-35. They concluded that youth are voting and are "politically engaged."
The results showed that over 80% of respondents participated in the most recent federal election. It also showed that most youth are not in favour of lowering the voting age but looking to more digital ways of voting for the future. This spurred city councillors to talk about the possible return of the debate of electronic voting
However the results do show a bit of a bias according to the students that presented stating that most of the surveys came from UNBC and not enough came from the community. Garth Frizzell was impressed by the students and happy to see students are engaged in the political process, he asked if their was ways to improve those numbers even more. One of the students stated that more engagement with young people will continue to encourage those numbers to improve.
By Grant Bachand @grantbachand
Rusty Rim & Slater D fill in while Hubcap Walter is stranded at the bottom of the hill due to a jacked bicycle. Thats a gap hubcaps can't fill.Gnarled, wired, and pitted, these brahs throw down the hottest surf tracks around. Yuh dig? Well then DIG and shoot the curl to this mondo playlist...
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It's the Canadian Mental Health Association's 65th Annual Mental Health Week, let's #GETLOUD in support of approximately 7 million Canadians who live with compromised mental health, mental illness and addiction. This week, I cover ten ways to #GETLOUD, and I touch on some lesser known facts about the Late Prince Rogers Nelson, as well as highlight some major sky events happening this year (Meteor shower this Friday evening, yay!). I also play two songs by The Flaming Lips in which they cover classic songs by The Beatles and Pink Floyd. https://www.mixcloud.com/britt-meierhofer/this-is-britt-am-episode-16-the-national-mental-health-week-episode/
