THAT the board adjourn to an in-camera session pursuant to the following sub-sections of section 90 of the Community Charter:

(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 regional district or another position appointed by the regional district;
(1)(c) labour relations or other employee relations;
(2)(b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the regional district and a provincial government or the federal government or both, or between a provincial government or the federal government or both and a third party.

The presiding member will provide the territory acknowledgment and read the following Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report.

Call to Action 31 - Justice:

We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to provide sufficient and stable funding to implement and evaluate community sanctions that will provide realistic alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal offenders and respond to the underlying causes of offending.

Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated August 29, 2023 for adoption. [Item] 

Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated August 31, 2023 for adoption. [Item] 

Staff will provide a verbal update on follow-up with the August 29, 2023 delegation from Jim Smiley and Denise Savoie regarding the feasibility study completed by FORT-VI for the potential conversion of Island Rail Corridor to an active transportation trail and their request that a business case for the corridor for all uses. The Board may consider providing further direction on this matter.

Stuart Hartman, Treasurer, to provide an overview of the services and activities of Comox Valley Crimestoppers. [Item] 

Ron Wilson, Debbie Frketich, and Frank Frketich, Denman Island Climate Action Network, to present regarding infrastructure work being done by Fortis in the Comox Valley and a request for a staff report on options to prevent the building of new natural gas infrastructure in the Comox Valley. [Item] 

Report dated September 8, 2023 regarding a process to develop a Regional Affordable Housing Action Plan that will guide implementation of Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) Goal #1 and respond, in part, to direction from the Board’s June 2023 Strategic Planning session for receipt. [Item] 

Report dated September 8, 2023 regarding the final report of the Homelessness Support Service review and implementation update and the Emergency Shelter and Supportive Housing Land Acquisition Service review for receipt. [Item] 

Note: Casandra Vink, Vink Consulting, will be in attendance to present information concerning the Homelessness Support Service review and the Emergency Shelter and Supportive Housing Land Acquisition Service review.

THAT the report entitled Homelessness Support Services Review and Implementation and Emergency Shelter Service Review, attached as Appendix A to this report and dated September 6, 2023, be used as an input to the Regional Growth Strategy Housing Action Plan;

AND FURTHER THAT a maximum of $10,000 be allocated from the Homelessness Supports Service (Function 451) to the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness to undertake a strategic planning process.

Report dated September 7, 2023 regarding an update concerning the Board’s strategic interest in providing non-market rental housing supports and seeking confirmation on next steps for receipt. [Item] 

THAT staff be directed to engage a third-party consultant to prepare a business case and seek advice for the possible establishment of a local government corporation to facilitate the creation of new non-market housing;

AND FURTHER THAT $75,000 for professional fees be allocated from the Management Services sub-function of the Administration and General Government Service for this purpose.

THAT staff be directed to work with member municipalities and other community partners to explore opportunities for using public land to deliver affordable housing.

Report dated September 7, 2023 regarding recommended transit improvements for receipt. [Item] 

THAT a conventional transit service expansion of be approved for implementation in 2024 to include:
a. 5,000 service hours for route #5 Vanier to improve access to the Comox Valley Foodbank, Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, Vanier Secondary School and Comox Valley Sports Centre
b. 500 service hours for route #10 Fanny bay to enable a connection to Nanaimo Transit at Deep Bay.

THAT a paratransit expansion of 800 hours be approved for implementation in 2024 to extend handyDART service into the evenings.

Report dated September 6, 2023 regarding the revised Airshed Protection Strategy based on feedback from the May 10, 2022, Board meeting and to provide recommended implementation actions for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Regional Airshed Protection Strategy (Strategy), attached as Appendix A to this staff report dated September 6, 2023, be endorsed for implementation by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) in accordance with the CVRD’s jurisdiction;

AND THAT the Strategy be distributed to the Airshed Roundtable Steering Committee member agencies with a request that the agencies/organizations implement the Strategy’s actions either independently or in partnership, based on jurisdictional responsibilities and operational abilities;

AND FURTHER THAT staff be directed to focus on Strategy actions that the CVRD has existing authority to implement (i.e. those that relate to educational initiatives and advocacy), being:

- 1B: Develop targeted strategies to enhance cleaner burning education.
- 2C: Expand financial support and education for wood-burning appliance removals.
- 5A: Expand air quality monitoring network for education and to conduct ongoing data analysis.
- 6A: Align education and communication initiatives from the Wood Smoke Reduction Program with the Action Plan.
- 6B: Identify and incorporate creative and collaborative educational campaigns on wood smoke reduction impacts.
- 6C: Plan and implement education events, courses and webinars.

AND FINALLY THAT staff purchase ten PurpleAir monitors valued at US$2,290, for distribution to residents as a citizen science initiative as part of the 2023/24 BC Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program.

Report dated August 30, 2023 regarding Sunnydale Golf Society’s (the Society) application for a 2024 permissive tax exemption for receipt. [Item] 

THAT pursuant to section 391(4)(a) of the Local Government Act, a bylaw be prepared for the board’s consideration allowing for a 100 per cent permissive tax exemption of the taxable land and improvements for the year 2024 for the property known as Parcel A, Plan VIP64403, Land District 15, Folio No. 771-000500.000 (Sunnydale Golf Society) with the exception of the portion of Class 06-Business/Other relating to the pro shop operations.

Report dated August 30, 2023 regarding the Union Bay Historical Society (Society) application for a 2024 permissive tax exemption for the Union Bay Post Office and Gaol House Museum buildings for receipt. [Item] 

THAT pursuant to section 392(1)(c) of the Local Government Act, a bylaw be prepared for the board’s consideration allowing for a permissive tax exemption for the 2024 taxation year for an amount equal to 100 per cent of the net taxable land and improvements for Section 32, Land District 34, Township 1, Folio #771 010800.000 (Union Bay Historical Society).

Report dated September 8, 2023 regarding proposed changes to the financial planning process for receipt. [Item] 

THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board endorse the proposed changes to the 2024 Financial Planning process as detailed within the report dated September 8, 2023.

Note: Planning application resolutions from the September 11, 2023 Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) meeting are included below pending support from the EASC. These resolutions may be updated after September 11, 2023 pending the outcomes from the meeting.

THAT Development Variance Permit DV 3C 23 (Jestico) be approved to increase the maximum combined floor area of three accessory buildings from 200 square meters to 232 square metres, as identified on Schedule C of the permit, on property described as Lot 2, District Lot 227, Comox District, Plan 48298, PID 013-550-756 (4327 Munster Road);

AND FINALLY THAT the Corporate Legislative Officer be authorized to execute the permit.

THAT a Temporary Use Permit (TUP 1C 23) be approved for a term of three years to permit a community care facility licensed pursuant to Community Care and Assisted Living Act on property described as Lot A, Block 249, Comox District, Plan 27411, Except Parcel "A" (DD R100949), PID 000-120-456 (8090 and 8100 Forbidden Plateau Road);

AND FINALLY THAT the Corporate Legislative Officer be authorized to execute the Temporary Use Permit once the applicant has:

1. provided a written acknowledgement that the applicant has read, understood and agreed to the conditions of the permit; and

2. obtained a building permit for the “resort building,” as shown on the Site Map in Schedule A of the permit, due to its use being changed.

THAT a site-specific engineer’s prescription for the siting of a proposed single detached dwelling relative to the 2100-year floodplain setback of Bylaw No. 600, being the “Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 600, 2020,” be approved on the property described as Lot 15, District Lot 191, Comox District, Plan 14276, PID 004-383-842 (unaddressed lot at Andrew Avenue);

AND FINALLY THAT, as a condition of the engineer’s site specific floodplain setback, the property owners, at their own expense, register a restrictive covenant under Section 219 of the Land Title Act, specifying conditions that would enable the land to be safely used for the use intended according to the terms of the engineer report prepared by Alex McBride, P.Eng., dated June 20, 2023, which will form part of the restrictive covenant, as well as an acknowledgement that no Disaster Financial Assistance funding is available for the building or its contents and releasing and indemnifying the Comox Valley Regional District from liability in the event any damage is caused by flooding or erosion.

THAT the agency referral list as outlined in Appendix A of staff report dated September 6, 2023 be endorsed and that staff be directed to start the external agency referral process for The West ½ of District Lot 14, Nelson District, PID 009-937-013 (Roycreek Farm Ltd.) as part of a proposed amendment (RZ 1C 23) of Bylaw No. 520, being the “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw, No. 520, 2019”;

AND FINALLY THAT Comox Valley Regional District staff consult with First Nations in accordance with the referrals management program dated September 25, 2012.

THAT the Board provide a letter of support for the Hornby Island Community Economic Enhancement Corporation's applications to the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) Initiative to support workforce housing.

THAT Bylaw No. 785 being “Comox Valley Regional District Property Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 785, 2023” be given first and second readings concurrently. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 785 being “Comox Valley Regional District Property Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 785, 2023” be given third reading.

THAT Bylaw No. 786 being “Comox Valley Regional District Property Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 786, 2023” be given first and second readings concurrently. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 786 being “Comox Valley Regional District Property Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 786, 2023” be given third reading.

THAT Bylaw No. 766 "Comox Valley Emergency Program Extended Service Establishment Bylaw 1991, Amendment No. 4” be adopted. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 782 being "Comox Valley Regional District Planning Procedures and Fees Bylaw No. 328, 2014, Amendment No. 5" be adopted. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 783 being "Development Permit Delegation Bylaw No. 2365, 2001, Amendment No. 5" be adopted. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 787 being "Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 104, 2010, Amendment No. 24" be adopted. [Item] 

THAT Bylaw No. 788 being "Bylaw Adjudication Ticketing Bylaw No. 679, 2021, Amendment No. 4" be adopted. [Item]