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Mission Council will be voting to adopt their budget tonight, a budget that includes a zero percent property tax increase.

Mayor Ted Adlem says the economy will play a large role in whether the District can sustain a zero increase in future budgets.

He says the District needs to grow its tax base.

“So we need some economic growth. We have some major stuff coming on board this year with the Walmart store, and we have a smaller corner mall at 11th and Stave that’s coming online.”

Adlem says staff did a lot of work to make the necessary cuts happen, and says more could be on the way.

“We’re now in our core services review as well, that’s going to have some changes in how we operate I’m sure. And I’m very optimistic we’ll be able to continue with the kind of program that we’re working on this year.”

Mayor Ted Adlem says giving taxpayers a break was a big part of his group’s election campaign.

A BC Liberal defector says you deserve to know why the province covered $6 million in legal fees for Dave Basi and Bobbi Virk in the BC Rail trial.
Abbotsford MLA John van Dongen wants a role in a lawsuit by BC’s auditor general.
The lawsuit essentially seeks a paper trail looking into why the province chose to cover those legal fees.  Seeking intervenor status, Van Dongen says the Liberals have held everything in secrecy.

“There’s been a pattern of resistance to accountability and disclosure on this decision right from the start….a very consistent pattern of resistance.”

Van Dongen says John Doyle can’t do his job of ensuring taxpayers’ money is well spent, unless he’s given unrestricted access to information about the government’s financial decisions.
The government covered the fees for Basi and Virk, who admitted to leaking government secrets involving the sale of BC Rail a decade ago.

Laird Cruickshank, lawyer for William Jon Orders

The hang glider pilot involved in the accident that killed 27 year old Lenami Godinez-Avila on April 28th will have his next court appearance on June 18th.

William Jon Orders is accused of swallowing a media card that may contain video evidence related to the death of 27 year old Lenami Godinez-Avila.

Orders’ lawyer Laird Cruickshank says this has been a traumatic incident for Orders.

“I know he’s expressed his remorse to me on an ongoing basis and I think he really needs some time to get out of custody and process things in the appropriate fashion.”

Cruickshank says Orders has done what he can to help police.

“He disclosed to police the events surrounding the memory card and has been cooperative with them since that time.”

Crown attourney Paul Blessin says at this point he can’t say anything about whether Orders will face any other charges.

“That’s up to the police to us send more information. At the moment we’re proceding on the charge of obstruction of justice.”

Orders made a brief appearance in Chilliwack court today and has been released on 5750 dollar bail with conditions that he can’t operate a hang glider.

Hang glider pilot John Orders was granted bail release with a cash deposit of 5750 dollars in Chilliwack Court.

He’s the pilot charged with obstruction of justice related to the April 28th  accident that resulted in the death of Lenami Godinez-Avila.

There is a publication ban on evidence but we can tell you that Crown opposed his release.

However the judge granted it on condition that he turn in his passports, stay in BC, and not operate any hang glider.

Constable Tracy Wolbeck with the RCMP says they have obtained the media card that Orders swallowed.

“We have processes in place in order to try and extract what’s on the card. That will not be further discussed at the moment. The RCMP’s priority at this time is exclusively to focus on answering the questions that we all have, particularly that of the family.”

Wolbeck says she was not able to comment on whether the investigation could result in any further charges.

Abbotsford mayor Bruce Banman has formed a committee with mayors of Langley, Surrey, and other municipalities south of the Fraser River to talk about regional planning.
Banman says a lot of the future growth will be on this side of the river and what happens in one community will impact the others.

“If we get more jobs for instance at Cascade Aerospace, that’s good for the entire region. Those are jobs that people from Surrey are going to drive to to work at.  If Surrey gets a big huge business, those are jobs people from Abbotsford can go to work at.”

Banman says some communities, such as Langley City and Township, are investigating the possibility of forming a new regional district along with Abbotsford.
However he adds at this point it is still early stages and Abbotsford will pursue whatever the best option is, which could mean staying in the FVRD.

Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz says she has also been invited to join the Mayors committee, and will attend the next meeting.

The City of Abbotsford will be seeking proposals from private companies to build a cable waterski park at Albert Dyck Park.

Surrey businessman Stu Mckeown proposed the idea to Council, and plans to submit his own bid.

He says a cable tow system lets you ski or wakeboard without needing a boat.

“That’s the biggest cost to anybody who wants to get involved in towed water sports. A boat is going to run you anywhere from thirty to a hundred thousand dollars and puts it out of financial reach for a lot of people. But a cable system all you need is a board, a life jacket, and a helmet and away you go.”

He says the system is similar to a T-bar at a ski hill, and will tow you across the water without using a boat.

The Fraser Valley Water Ski Club had voiced opposition to the idea, but McKeown modified his proposal and the two sides have reached an agreement that lets both of them use the lake.

The man charged with obstruction of justice in connection with Saturday’s fatal hang glider accident will be in custody for at least a couple more days.

William Orders was supposed to have his bail hearing in Chilliwack court Wednesday afternoon but both sides have agreed to put the hearing over until Friday afternoon.

Orders was taking 27 year old Lenami Godinez-Avila on a tandem hang glider flight when she fell to her death.

According to court documents Orders is accused of swallowing evidence in the form of a media card that may contain video footage of the flight.

RCMP and the BC Coroners service continue to investigate to determine whether the accident was because of faulty equipment or human error.

If you already have Rex and Fifi and want to add a Fido, you soon might be able to in Abbotsford.

Current bylaws only allow two dogs in a household but Council will consider an amendment that will allow three.

Councilor Simon Gibson says the only possible problem is the noise in apartment buildings.

“I’m willing to support this, I see that the majority of communities have this. The only concern I do have is that in multiple housing complexes you add three dogs it could aggravate the situation.”

Councilor Patricia Ross says that won’t be an issue.

“Most strata councils will have bylaws that prohibit or regulate that anyway, they will only allow one dog. In fact they regulate the size of the dog. It can’t be above a certain weight.”

While there could potentially an increase in dog problems, city staff pointed out there would be some extra revenue from dog licenses and more places for dogs who need a home.

Staff will put together an amendment for Council to debate and vote on.

A scary day for an Abbotsford mother on Monday.

Around 3:45 in the afternoon she was pushing her one and a half year old child across the street in a stroller when the stroller was hit by a pickup truck.

The stroller was knocked over but luckily the child was well secured and wasn’t hurt.

The incident happened at the intersection of South Fraser Way and Sumas Way and police are looking for a grey or blue dodge pickup truck.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked to call Abbotsford police.

It was a bad day for a guy and his car on Monday.

Last night he parked the car on his inclined driveway, but apparently his brakes weren’t quite 100 percent and the car started to roll down into the street.

Worried that his car would end up crashing into someone’s house, he tried to stop it and ended up between his car, another car, and a telephone pole.

The man suffered a fractured leg but avoided more serious injuries.

Police say hopefully he’s learned to keep up on the maintenance of his car and to not get in the way of a several thousand pound vehicle.