Gibsons council has agreed to a proposal to place outdoor art on public lands throughout the town.
Pitched last month by William Baker and artist Elizabeth Evans, the outdoor gallery project will see large panels of original artwork attached to freestanding wooden structures or the sides of buildings. After a year, each painting will be auctioned off and replaced with a new work of art.
Recommending approval at council’s June 3 meeting, parks and cultural services director Wendy Gilbertson said she concluded the commercial aspect of the project was secondary to its exhibition value.
“It’s something we can give a try to for a while,” she said. “It’s not a permanent structure.”
Gilbertson said she will be working with the proponents to find suitable sites, adding that maintenance and insurance will be the proponents’ responsibilities.
Council’s motion was conditional on the proponents obtaining a public place use permit.
In a release issued the next day, Baker said he was amazed by the speed of council’s decision. The next stage, he said, will be to launch a crowd-funding campaign for the project.
Remuneration
Council received the annual report on remuneration for elected officials and employees who earned more than $75,000 in 2013.
On the council side, Mayor Wayne Rowe received $30,695 last year, while Coun. Dan Bouman brought in $14,238, Coun. Lee Ann Johnson $14,363, Coun. Charlene SanJenko $15,663 and Coun. Gerry Tretick $15,042.
The five claimed a total of just under $16,000 in expenses.
On the staff side, chief administrative officer Mani Machado earned $118,356, director of finance Ian Poole $111,278, director of engineering Dave Newman $101,870, director of parks and cultural services Wendy Gilbertson $94,273, public works director Greg Foss $93,015, corporate officer Selina Williams $83,582, assistant treasurer Lorraine Coughlin $77,811 and building inspector Chester Machniewski $75,971.
Total expenses for the eight administrators came to $33,911.
Among grants of assistance last year, the largest amount provided to a group was $45,000 to the Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce for visitor services. A larger sum of $60,280 for economic development was split between the Chamber, which received about $10,000, the economic development select committee, an economic development forum and a display booth at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention, Poole told resident Hammy McClymont during enquiries.
Field trip
Council passed a notice of motion by Bouman that would see elected officials and senior staff members convene a “workshop in the field” to view riparian areas that are within development permit area (DPA) two, with a focus on water courses.
“I have a feeling that sometimes things get a little too theoretical and disjointed and it might be beneficial to council to actually tour some of the areas and look at the land that’s governed by this DPA area,” Bouman said at the June 3 meeting.
He added that he hoped “the sense of reality we get” from the experience will lead to some modifications in the official community plan’s DPA section.
