Meeting #:

R6/2023

Date:

Wednesday, March 22, 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. Hillian
• E. Jolicoeur
• M. McCollum
• W. Morin

Regrets:

• D. Frisch (medical leave)

Staff Present:

• G. Garbutt, City Manager (CAO)
• A. Langenmaier, Director of Financial Services, via audio/video conference
• K. O'Connell, Director of Corporate Services
• S. Saunders, Director of Recreation, Culture & Community Services
• P. de Graaf, Manager of Bylaw Enforcement
• A. Proton, Manager of Legislative Services
• C. Dallamore, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Wells called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm and respectfully acknowledged that the land we gather on is Unceded territory of the K'ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.

• Councillor Morin acknowledged World Water Day and the value of clean, safe water, especially when many individuals lack access to it.
• Mayor Wells noted that members of Council, City staff, RCMP, the Medical Health Officer and others met with the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association last week to listen to their concerns, and thanked all of those who invested their time into the event. 

2.

INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS

• Moved By Jolicoeur
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT Council add Notice of Motion - Downtown Community Police Office - Mayor Wells to the agenda as item 8.2.

  CARRIED
• Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By Jolicoeur

  THAT Council move Item 8.1, Notice of Motion - Community Clean-Up - Councillor Hillian to the Council Resolutions section of the agenda as item 7.2.

  CARRIED

3.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

3.1

Regular Council Minutes - March 8, 2023

3.2

Special Council Minutes - March 13, 2023

• Moved By McCollum
  Seconded By Morin

  THAT Council adopt the March 8, 2023 Regular Council minutes and the March 13, 2023 Special Council minutes.

  CARRIED

4.

DELEGATIONS

4.1

Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue

Council received a presentation from Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue (CVGSAR) treasurer, Bronwen Beedle. CVGSAR requests to be acknowledged as first responders and requests the donation of land to build a permanent home for CVGSAR. They are seeking an acre of land with access to local rivers, urban areas, the Courtenay Air Park and surrounding highways, as well as internet, radio and parking. 

5.

STAFF REPORTS

5.1

Corporate Services

5.1.1

Public Notice of Late Filing of Campaign Financial Disclosure Statement

• Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By McCollum

  THAT the report entitled “Public Notice of Late Filing of Campaign Financial Disclosure Statement” be received for information.

  CARRIED

5.1.2

Parks Control Bylaw Modernization Project Update 

• Moved By McCollum
  Seconded By Morin

  THAT Council receive the Parks Control Bylaw Modernization Project Update.

  CARRIED

5.2

Financial Services

5.2.1

2023 Parcel Tax Review

• Councillor Jolicoeur left the meeting at 5:02 pm.

  Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  THAT Council receive the 2023 Parcel Tax Review report for information, as the parcel tax roll is deemed to be authenticated per Section 208 (10) of the Community Charter.

  CARRIED

  Councillor Jolicoeur returned to the meeting at 5:03 pm.

  
  

6.

COUNCIL REPORTS

6.1

Councillor Cole-Hamilton

No report provided.

6.2

Councillor Hillian

Councillor Hillian reviewed his attendance at the following events:

• Attended a celebration held by the Lake Trail Neighbourhood Connections Society honouring Sheila McDonnell, a retiring SD71 trustee, for her many years of promoting community projects. 
• Mar 16 - DCBIA Safety and Security meeting moderated by members of the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre. The event centered on the challenges encountered by the downtown community and the effects of urban issues on the area.

6.3

Councillor Jolicoeur

No report provided.

6.4

Councillor McCollum

Councillor McCollum reviewed her attendance at the following events:

• Mar 21 - Comox Valley Recreation Commission meeting - adopted the strategic plan and capital plan. One of the first items will be to begin work on constructing a second artificial turf field at the Vanier School site. Following this, the plan is to develop a new ice sheet within the next four to six years. 

6.5

Councillor Morin

Councillor Morin reviewed her attendance at the following events:

• Mar 14 - Point-in-Time Homeless Count - participated in the Point-in-Time Homeless Count which involved surveying unhoused individuals and collecting information on their demographics, health, and housing needs. The data collected is used to inform policies and allocate resources to address homelessness, develop targeted responses, and better understand the scope of the issue.

6.6

Mayor Wells

Mayor Wells reviewed his attendance at the following events:

• Mar 9 & 15 - Cumberland Forest Society meetings and AGM
• Situation Table meeting - attended initial training session/meeting
• Mar 13 - Vanier High School - conducted interviews with students and spoke with students from the Social Studies Class about how they could get involved in their communities and make a positive impact
• Mar 16 - Heritage Advisory Commission meeting - discussed terms of reference and ongoing projects
• Mar 16 - DCBIA Safety and Security meeting - dialogue regarding the current urban issues and challenges facing Courtenay
• Mar 17 - 10th Annual Mayor's Cup for KidSport - charity hockey match that raised over $7000 for kids in the Comox Valley
• Mar 18 - Courtenay Volunteer Firefighters dinner 
• Mar 21 - Attended the Provincial announcement to improve cellular coverage in remote and rural areas. 

7.

COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

7.1

Equitable access to Mental Health & Substance Use Services in Comox Valley - Councillor Jolicoeur

• Moved By Jolicoeur
  Seconded By Cole-Hamilton

  WHEREAS the BC government has committed to utilize surplus and additional funding in Budget 2023 for mental health & substance use services; and

  WHEREAS the Comox Valley currently lacks the continuum of mental health and substance use services locally including medical detox, inhalation overdose prevention services, mental health treatment facilities, managed alcohol programs, Indigenous healing services, substance use treatment facilities, and second stage housing;

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Courtenay advocate to the Premier, Ministers of Health and Mental Health & Addictions to increase funding to Island Health, local non-profits and private providers for the purpose of filling the gap in mental health and substance use services in the Comox Valley; and 

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City write to regional local government partners to seek interest in submitting a shared regional letter to the BC Government.

  CARRIED

7.2

Community Clean-Up - Councillor Hillian

• Moved By Hillian
  Seconded By Morin

  WHEREAS numerous citizens and business owners have expressed concern this winter regarding the general appearance of West Courtenay; and

  WHEREAS a coordinated community clean up would provide the opportunity for citizens to work together to improve the current look and feel of the community; 

  THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City organize a Spring clean-up, including the following elements:

  • Engagement of local businesses and community agencies and their clients to focus on downtown and to include litter and graffiti;
  • Encouragement and facilitation of neighbourhood clean ups, including the trimming of hedges intruding on City sidewalks; and
  • The remediation of known sites of excess garbage.
  CARRIED

8.

NOTICE OF MOTION

8.1

Downtown Community Police Office - Mayor Wells

WHEREAS the DCBIA have raised a variety of safety concerns; and

WHEREAS the RCMP community police model has been implemented in other municipalities to the benefit of the community;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council direct staff to work with the RCMP and the DCBIA to explore the option of a Downtown Community Police Office and report back to Council.

9.

IN CAMERA RESOLUTION

• Moved By Jolicoeur
  Seconded By Morin

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

  90   (1) A part of a council meeting may be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to or is one or more of the following:

  (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;

  (f) law enforcement, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the conduct of an investigation under or enforcement of an enactment;

  (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality; 

  (i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and

  (j) information that is prohibited, or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited, from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

  CARRIED

10.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Wells terminated the open portion of the meeting at 5:33 pm. Following the conclusion of the in camera portion of the meeting, Mayor Wells terminated the meeting at 7:57 pm.

 

CERTIFIED CORRECT

Adopted by Council April 12, 2023