City of Parksville communications officer Deb Tardiff calls them “the hottest new item since sparklers.”
The city is looking for co-sponsors to help offset $1,000 in costs to buy 2,500 pairs of glasses that will supposedly enhance the experience for those attending the fireworks at Community Park this Canada Day.
They are like the 3-D glasses one would get at a movie theatre. City councillors put the colourful glasses on Monday and most had a giggle at either what they saw through the glasses, or what their fellow councillors looked like while wearing them.
In other city council news from Monday’s regular meeting:
• The Parksville Downtown Business Association presented its annual report and budget and received 25 per cent of its annual $150,000 tax levy from the city. The PDBA has a balanced budget with $153,000 in both revenue and expenses.
• An April 7 public hearing regarding the proposed residential height restrictions for buildings in proximity to rear lot lines has been delayed, at the request of the Oceanside Development and Construction Association (ODCA). In a letter to council, the ODCA said it needed more time to study the possible effects of the changes they believe “could cause some difficulty or even eliminate the building of carriage houses in the future.” Council passed the recommendation to delay the hearing, with only Coun. Sue Powell opposed. She said the ODCA has had adequate time to put together a position paper on the subject.
• The area of Highway 19A just on the city side of the Orange Bridge — specifically, access issues to and from businesses on both sides of the highway — will get a closer look from city staff after a council motion Monday, spurred by safety concerns expressed by Big Tent RV Park owner Larry Adams.
• The city will take another look at commercial enterprises in Community Park after council unanimously repealed its policy regarding business enterprises in the park. Council also unanimously passed a motion to decline to renew Adventures Sea Kayaking’s 2014 lease with the city. Last year, the business operated on and/or near the old hovercraft landing pad.
• Council received a report from its parks foreman Warren Payne about BC Hydro’s plans to prune or remove trees in the city that are posing a danger to power/telephone lines. Some of the trees to be removed are: three pines in front of McDonald’s on Highway 19A and six plum trees on Harnish Avenue close to Moilliet Street.