RETIREMENTS UP AT CITY HALL
The City of Burnaby lost 32 city staffers to retirement in 2011, according to reports from the city's director of human resources, Kim Munro.
The number of retirements at the city has steadily increased in recent years, but the number of retirees in 2011 is the biggest jump in the last three.
In 2010, 23 staffers retired, up from 2009, when only 17 retired.
Between July and December 2011, eight staffers retired, according to a report presented to council at the Feb. 20 meeting, on top of the 24 retirees before July.
PARKS PROJECTS GET FUNDING
Burnaby council approved $1.9 million in funding for 13 parks, recreation and cultural services projects at the Feb. 20 council meeting.
The projects include removing invasive species from local parks ($100,000); upgrading lacrosse boxes at Confederation, Riverway and Cariboo parks ($150,000); upgrading wading pools and spray parks ($350,000); replacing old equipment at city playgrounds ($160,000); buying a medium-sized crane ($185,000); and renovations to the Burnaby Lake Pavilion ($100,000).
ENVIRONMENT WEEK PLANS
Burnaby council approved plans for this year's Environment Week, to be held from June 3 to 9, at the Feb. 20 council meeting.
This year's theme is Water - Ours to Conserve and Protect.
The city is also putting out the call for nominations for the 2012 Environment Awards.
Advertising for the call for nominations, in the amount of $4,350, has been approved as well.
There are six categories for the awards, under two designations: Environment Awards and Environmental Stars.
The awards reception is scheduled for June 10 at the Burnaby Lake Pavilion.
Council also approved spending $5,650 on advertising for the city's second annual Garage Sale Day event, to be held during the week.
Events for the week include the awards reception, car trunk sales, water conservation events, a commuter challenge, the Environment Festival, a guided canoe trip at Deer Lake and more.
SISTER CITY VISIT PLANNED
City of Burnaby mayor, councillors and staff are off to a family reunion this month.
Burnaby is sending a delegation to the city's sister city, Mesa, Arizona, from March 21 to 25.
Burnaby council approved spending for the three-day trip, estimated at $6,500 U.S., which is in honour of Mesa's centennial celebrations, according to a report from the international relations and friendship cities committee.
The focus of the trip will be a health care, education, aerospace, tourism and technology tour, the report added.
A delegation from Mesa - which is the third-largest city in Arizona, much as Burnaby is the third largest city in B.C. - visited Burnaby in 2010.
Representatives from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Simon Fraser University, the Burnaby school board, and the Burnaby Board of Trade have also been invited to join city politicians and staff on the official visit.
NAGAR KIRTAN PARADE COMING
Burnaby's Sikh temple is holding a Nagar Kirtan parade - a neighbourhood procession through the city singing hymns - again this year.
It will be the fifth annual parade held by the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha society.
Burnaby council approved plans for this year's parade - being held on Saturday, April 28 - at the Feb. 13 council meeting.
The parade goes from the temple at 7271 Gilley Ave. through the Metrotown area and back to the temple.
Council also approved rolling road closures along the parade route. The parade starts at noon, heading south on Gilley Avenue, and finishes back at the temple at approximately 6 p.m., according to a report from the city's director of engineering, Lambert Chu.
Organizers are required to notify local businesses and advertise in local newspapers and on radio stations in advance of the event.
The City of Burnaby plans to put up warning signs a week before the event, to notify drivers of road closures and detour routes while the parade is on.
HELP SEND OFF THE SALMON IN MAY
The Stoney Creek Environment Committee is holding the 22nd annual Great Salmon Send-Off on May 12.
The committee sent a letter to Burnaby council, asking for permission to publicize the event with signs on city boulevards.
The city's department of engineering is working with the organizers to determine the most appropriate locations and the amount of signs to be placed on city property in advance of the event, according to a staff note included in the Feb. 13 council agenda.
HOUSE GETS HERITAGE PLAQUE
Burnaby council approved spending of $1,500 for heritage plaques for Charles and Mary Shaw House at the Feb. 13 council meeting.
The house is part of the Normanna Rest Home site at 7979 Fourth St., according to a report from the city's director of planning and building, Basil Luksun, and was built in 1891.
Last year, the Norwegian Old People's Home Association worked to restore the house, which was the home of Burnaby's first reeve (or mayor) Charles R. Shaw.
