Jayden Dayman was sworn in for his second term as the student representative on council. Jayden served for one semester in 2011.
Helen Fornwald, the Emergency Measures Office co-ordinator for the City, was before council to speak about a disaster management conference she attended in Winnipeg in November.
Among the speakers was Ray Nagin, the former mayor of New Orleans who guided that city through the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Fornwald noted the conference touched on other more recent disasters such as the flooding that hit Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 2011 as well Superstorm Sandy.
She added that one of the keys to dealing with a crisis situation is ensuring the proper information is provided to the public and touched on how social media is becoming an important communication tool.
Fornwald also presented her annual report which focused on the EMO activities of the past year.
Among the items noted was a exercise on how to handle a plane crash at the local airport due to power failure and weather conditions. The exercise was to test the Estevan Emergency Planning Control group for readiness if a disaster were to occur.
In his report, city manager Jim Puffalt said the recent Harlem Globetrotters appearance at Spectra Place was a success. Puffalt said over 1,500 people attended the game and added the next major event is the return of Hard Knocks MMA on March 1.
Council gave permission to leisure services to enter into a three-year herbicide control contract with Southeast Tree Care of Estevan.
A report from leisure services was presented about the waiving of rental fees for non-profit groups using City facilities.
Leisure Services receives a number of requests from groups looking to use areas such as Spectra Place or the Civic Auditorium for their events. In the past when a request was made, it was forwarded on to council who made their decision on a case-by-case basis.
In an effort to reduce any confusion, council asked leisure services to speak with other communities on their practices and to recommend a policy to them.
The recommendation from them was that all future requests for free usage of City facilities, equipment or services be denied. Any future requests should be charged the current fee or a discounted fee in order to cover staffing costs. The motion passed unanimously.
Council also received an application from Trimount Developments to re-subdivide a piece of land in the Dominion Heights subdivision.
The subdivision would allow Trimount to create 32 new lots which would be used to develop eight four-unit condo townhouses. There would also be 1.577 acres of land that would be developed into a park for public use.
An application to create a new four-plex on Fourth Street also came before council.
A developer would like to the build the multi-family dwelling at 801 Fourth Street which is a corner lot directly across from the Co-op gas station.
The request drew a favourable response from council. Councillor Dennis Moore said he was pleased to see people coming up with good ways of using existing infrastructure and felt the corner lot was ideal for the development.
Council gave first reading at the meeting. The public will now have a couple of weeks to express any concerns they might have about the proposal.
Council also received a rezoning application from a developer for a lot on Third Street.
The developer would like to demolish the existing home at 613 Third Street and build a two-story multi-family unit with four residences.
First reading was given and residents in the area will now have their chance to express any concerns.
