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:
(b) personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the municipality on condition of anonymity; and
(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality; and
(i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and
(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.
The in camera portion of the meeting began at 3:04 pm.
The Mayor recessed the in camera meeting at 3:54 pm and resumed the open portion of the meeting at 4:01 pm.
Mayor Wells respectfully acknowledged that the meeting was conducted on the Unceded territory of the K'ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.
Councillor Morin provided a statement on behalf of Council to acknowledge the deaths of 14 Comox Valley community members in the period of May to August 2024 due to the unregulated toxic drug supply crisis, for a total of 205 deaths of Comox Valley Community members since the public health emergency was first declared.
Mayor Wells acknowledged the passing of former Premier John Horgan, extending condolences to his family. He also recognized the passing of Senator Murray Sinclair, noting Sinclair's 94 Calls to Action and his efforts in reconciliation and decolonization.