Meeting #:

R18/2023

Date:

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Time:

4:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

Location:

CVRD Civic Room, 770 Harmston Ave, Courtenay

Council Present:

• B. Wells
• W. Cole-Hamilton
• D. Frisch
• D. Hillian
• E. Jolicoeur (joined electronically at 4:23 pm)
• M. McCollum
• W. Morin

Staff Present:

• A. Langenmaier, Director of Financial Services/Acting City Manager
• K. O'Connell, Director of Corporate Services
• S. Saunders, Director of Recreation, Culture & Community Services
• M. Wade, Director of Development Services
• A. Proton, Manager of Legislative Services
• R. Matthews, Deputy Corporate Officer

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

• Mayor Wells called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm and respectfully acknowledged that the land on which the meeting was conducted is the Unceded territory of the K'ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
• Mayor Wells provided a statement on behalf of Council reiterating strong and unwavering support of Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual communities.

2.

INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS

With no late items or objections, Council proceeded with the agenda as presented.

3.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

3.1

Regular Council Minutes - September 27, 2023

• Moved By Frisch
  Seconded By Hillian

  THAT Council adopt the September 27, 2023 Regular Council minutes.

  CARRIED

4.

DELEGATIONS

4.1

Wiseland Humanitarian Association

Guenther, Executive Director, Wiseland Humanitarian Association, presented information regarding Project Safe Park, which proposes to provide a safe area for people who are using their vehicles as temporary residences to have a secure place to park and include access to amenities such as washrooms, showers, and hydro.

Guenther requested from Council an agreement in principle to assist the Association with acquiring funding to start the project.

4.2

Comox Valley Nature (CVN) Garry Oaks Restoration Team

Eloise Holland and Karen Cummins, Comox Valley Nature (CVN) Garry Oaks Restoration Team, presented information regarding the Vanier Nature Park's Garry Oak grove restoration process and requested from Council:

• $5,760 for the removal of identified hazard trees in Fall 2023 or Winter 2024;
• Permission for Comox Valley Nature to begin removal of invasive plants in the Garry Oak grove once the mitigation of hazard trees is completed;
• Collection and disposal of invasive plants removed and collected by Comox Valley Nature members;
• $3,710 for the reduction of 4 conifer trees to wildlife trees in Fall 2024 and each year for another 4 years (bearing 50% of the cost; Comox Valley Nature would match the amount); and,
• Collaboration on public outreach regarding the project (ie. press releases, brochure printing, open houses).

 

Councillor Jolicoeur joined the meeting at 4:24 pm.

5.

STAFF REPORTS

5.1

Corporate Services

5.1.1

2024 Council Meeting Calendar

• Moved By Frisch
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT Council approve the following 2024 Council Meeting Calendar:

  • • January 10^th and 24^th
    • February 14^th and 28^th
    • March 13^th and 27^th
    • April 10^th and 24^th
    • May 8^th and 22^nd
    • June 12^th and 26^th
    • July 17^th and 31^st
    • August 28^th
    • September 11^th and 25^th
    • October 9^th and 23^rd
    • November 13^th and 27^th
    • December 11^th; and,

  THAT the Council meetings be held at 4:00 pm in the Civic Room at the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) administration building located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC unless otherwise posted.

• Amendment:

  Moved By Cole-Hamilton
  Seconded By McCollum

  THAT Council amend the motion to remove the March 27^th, 2024 meeting date from the 2024 Council Meeting Calendar.

  CARRIED

  Opposed: Councillor Frisch, Councillor Hillian

  
  

• Main motion as amended:

  Moved By Frisch
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT Council approve the following 2024 Council Meeting Calendar:

  • • January 10^th and 24^th
    • February 14^th and 28^th
    • March 13^th
    • April 10^th and 24^th
    • May 8^th and 22^nd
    • June 12^th and 26^th
    • July 17^th and 31^st
    • August 28^th
    • September 11^th and 25^th
    • October 9^th and 23^rd
    • November 13^th and 27^th
    • December 11^th; and,

  THAT the Council meetings be held at 4:00 pm in the Civic Room at the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) administration building located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC unless otherwise posted.

  CARRIED

5.1.2

Comox Valley Accessibility Framework

• Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By Jolicoeur

  THAT Council approve the Comox Valley Accessibility Framework and direct staff to execute the Agreement with the Comox Valley Social Planning Society.

  CARRIED

5.1.3

Committee Review

• Moved By Frisch
  Seconded By Hillian

  THAT Council direct staff to schedule a Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss Council’s priorities for its committees, committee format and operations, committee communications, committee budgets, committee administration, and Council’s participation on external committees.

  CARRIED

5.2

Recreation, Culture and Community Services

5.2.1

Sports Field Strategy and Allocation Report Back

• Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT Council receive for information the Comox Valley Regional District Sports Field Strategy and direct staff to initiate work on behalf of the region to develop a new sports field allocation policy and centralized booking function for the Comox Valley and to report back with recommendations.

  CARRIED

6.

EXTERNAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

6.1

BC Housing Point-in-Time 2023 Comox Valley Homeless Count

• Moved By Frisch
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT the Council receive the letter from Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and BC Housing Point-in-Time 2023 Comox Valley Homeless Count report.

  CARRIED

6.2

CVRD Notice of Inaugural Meeting - Nov 7, 2023

• Moved By Cole-Hamilton
  Seconded By Frisch

  THAT Council receive the September 25, 2023 correspondence providing notice of the CVRD's Inaugural Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

  CARRIED

7.

COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

7.1

Toxic Drug Deaths - Councillor Morin

• Moved By Morin
  Seconded By Frisch

  WHEREAS the lives of at least 12,264 British Columbians have been lost to unregulated drugs since the public health emergency was first declared on April 14, 2016, with 154 lives lost in the Comox Valley;

  WHEREAS unregulated drug toxicity is now the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 59 in BC, numbering more than homicides, suicides, deaths from accident and natural disease combined;

  WHEREAS these lives matter and are valued, and we all must do more to reduce stigma and save lives;

  WHEREAS Council would like to acknowledge and honour the lives lost in the Comox Valley to the unregulated toxic drug supply crisis;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council read this statement following triannual updates from the BC Coroner’s Service: Courtenay Council would like to acknowledge the deaths of [number] Comox Valley community members in the period of [dates] due to the unregulated toxic drug supply crisis, for a total of [number] deaths of Comox Valley Community members since the public health emergency was first declared. Our hearts go out to their loved ones. We want you to know their lives matter, and Council will continue to push for action and effective policy to stop these preventable and unnecessary deaths.

  CARRIED

7.2

Refurbishment of Historic Clocks - Councillor Hillian

• Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  WHEREAS the City of Courtenay Heritage Commission has requested clarity regarding the refurbishment of historic clocks;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT a staff report be prepared to address this request.

  CARRIED

8.

NOTICE OF MOTION

8.1

Zero Carbon Step Code - Councillor Cole-Hamilton & Councillor McCollum

WHEREAS the City of Courtenay’s new Official Community Plan (OCP) has identified climate action goals and aims to reduce GHG emissions in our community by 45% below 2016 levels by 2030;

WHEREAS OCP policy BL 6 commits the City to “Advocate to and support the Province in amending the BC Building Code and other building related policies to: a) regulate carbon pollution for new buildings as soon as possible” and policy BL 7 commits the City to “Review and update immediately relevant building, zoning, and development permitting policies upon any new legislative authorities that support policies within BL 6;” and

WHEREAS the Province has responded to advocacy by the City and numerous other local governments by introducing the Zero Carbon Step Code which provides new authority to local governments to regulate carbon pollution from new buildings; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to policies BL6 and BL7 of Courtenay’s OCP, staff prepare a report outlining options for implementing the Zero Carbon Step Code in order to meet the City's 2030 emissions reduction target.

9.

BYLAWS

9.1

For Final Adoption

9.1.1

Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3101 – 1410 Glen Urquhart Drive

• Moved By McCollum
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT Council adopt "Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3101, 2023".

  CARRIED

10.

COUNCIL REPORTS

10.1

Councillor Cole-Hamilton

No report provided.

10.2

Councillor Frisch

Councillor Frisch submitted a report of activities, see agenda.

10.3

Councillor Hillian

No report provided.

10.4

Councillor Jolicoeur

No report provided.

10.5

Councillor McCollum

Councillor McCollum submitted a report of activities, see agenda.

10.6

Councillor Morin

Councillor Morin submitted a report of activities, see agenda.

10.7

Mayor Wells

Mayor Wells reviewed his attendance at the following events:

• Sept 29 - 19 Wing Luncheon
• Sept 30 - Comox Valley Spirit walk
• Oct 1 - Comox Valley Search and Rescue 50th anniversary celebration
• Oct 5 - Island Health Partnership Breakfast

Mayor Wells also thanked Council for their support during his recent bereavement.

11.

IN CAMERA RESOLUTION

• Moved By Cole-Hamilton
  Seconded By Hillian

  THAT Council close the meeting to the public pursuant to the following subsections of the Community Charter:

  90   (1) (a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality; and

  (c) labour relations or other employee relations.

  CARRIED

12.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Wells terminated the open portion of the meeting at 5:46 pm. Following the conclusion of the in camera portion of the meeting, Mayor Wells terminated the meeting at XX:XX pm.

 

CERTIFIED CORRECT

Adopted by Council October 25, 2023