 | COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD | |
| Tuesday, March 21, 2023 | ||
| Minutes of the meeting of the Comox Valley Regional District Board of Directors held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in the Civic Room of the Comox Valley Regional District offices located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC commencing at 3:00 pm. | ||
| MINUTES | ||
| Present: | ||
| Chair: | J. Ketler | Village of Cumberland |
| Vice-Chair: | W. Cole-Hamilton | City of Courtenay |
| Directors: | R. Hardy | Lazo North (Area B) |
| D. Arbour | Baynes Sound-Denman/Hornby Islands (Area A) | |
| K. Grant | Town of Comox | |
| E. Grieve | Puntledge/Black Creek (Area C) | |
| D. Hillian | City of Courtenay | |
| M. McCollum | City of Courtenay | |
| W. Morin | City of Courtenay | |
| J. Kerr | Town of Comox | |
| J. Rice | Oyster Bay – Buttle Lake (Area D) | |
| Staff: | R. Dyson | Chief Administrative Officer |
| J. Warren | Deputy Chief Administrative Officer | |
| L. Wiwcharuk | Chief Financial Officer | |
| D. DeMarzo | General Manager of Community Services | |
| J. Martens | General Manager of Corporate Services | |
| M. Rutten | General Manager of Engineering Services | |
| A. Mullaly | General Manager of Planning and Development | |
| L. Dennis | Manager of Legislative Services | |
| IN-CAMERA MEETING: | ||||||
| D. Arbour/D. Hillian: THAT the board adjourn to an in-camera session pursuant to the following sub-sections of section 90 of the Community Charter:
90(1)(c) Labour relations or employee negotiations; 90(1)(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the committee/board considers that disclosure might reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality; 90(1)(i) The receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; and, 90(1)(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a regional district service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the committee/board, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the regional district if they were held in public. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| Time: 3:01 pm. | ||||||
| RISE AND REPORT: | ||||||
| The Board rose from its in-camera session at 3:54 pm.
The open meeting resumed at 4:00 pm. | ||||||
| RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL TERRITORIES: | ||||||
| The Chair acknowledged that the meeting was being held on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation and read the following Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report:
Call to Action 21 - Health: We call upon the federal government to provide sustainable funding for existing and new Aboriginal healing centres to address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual harms caused by residential schools, and to ensure that the funding of healing centres in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is a priority. | ||||||
| ADOPTION OF MINUTES: | ||||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT the following minutes be received: | ||||||
| - Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated February 28, 2023; and, [Item] | ||||||
| - Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated March 7, 2023. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES: | ||||||
| CORRECTION TO FEBRUARY 13, 2023 ELECTORAL AREAS SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES | ||||||
| K. Grant/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT the minutes of the Electoral Areas Services Committee dated February 13, 2023 be amended to reflect the correct allocation of $2,500 to the Alberni Project Society as part of the proposed 2023–2027 financial plan for the Electoral Areas Arts and Culture Grant Service, function 615;
AND FURTHER THAT the minutes be received as amended. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS: | ||||||
| MOSAIC FOREST MANAGEMENT | ||||||
| K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT the presentation from Molly Hudson, Director Sustainability, and Colin Koszman, Land Use Forester, Mosaic Forest Management, regarding an update regarding initiatives and activities around the Comox Valley be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| DAWN TO DAWN ACTION ON HOMELESSNESS SOCIETY | ||||||
| D. Arbour/D. Hillian: THAT the presentation from Lee Everson, Project Manager, and Grant Schilling, regarding Gukwas sa Wagalus - Rainbow House, which will provide peer-supported, transitional home for 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the Comox Valley, be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| PROVINCIAL REFERRAL FOR A WATER LICENCE AMENDMENT OF GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION AT 2400 AND 2410 SACKVILLE ROAD | ||||||
| D. Arbour/E. Grieve: THAT the presenation from Bruce Gibbons, Merville Water Guardians, and Arzeena Hamir, regarding water license amendment referral from the Ministry of Forests for proposed Home Occupation business at 2400/2410 Sackville Road and request for reconsideration of approval of Home Occupation use be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| REPORTS: | ||||||
| BLACK CREEK – OYSTER BAY SERVICES COMMITTEE – MARCH 6, 2023 | ||||||
| K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT the Black Creek – Oyster Bay Services Committee minutes dated March 6, 2023 be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT the proposed 2023-2027 operating financial plan and the 2023-2032 capital plan for the Black Creek – Oyster Bay Water Local Service, function 313, be approved;
AND FURTHER THAT Bylaw No. 5, being “Black Creek/Oyster Bay Water Service Regulation, Fees, and Charges Bylaw” be amended to include a 10 per cent increase to water rates effective April 1, 2023, and another two per cent increase to user rates effective January 1, 2024; AND FINALLY THAT an allocation of Electoral Area C (Puntledge-North) Community Works Funds in the amount of $300,000 be approved to support the completion in 2023 of the new production well for the Black Creek / Oyster Bay Water service and its connection to the water treatment facility. | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| ELECTORAL AREAS SERVICES COMMITTEE – MARCH 6, 2023 | ||||||
| D. Arbour/K. Grant: THAT the Electoral Areas Services Committee minutes dated March 6, 2023 be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| Mr. MacKenzie, property owner at 2400/2410 Sackville Road, was in attendance and addressed the Board prior to consideration of the following item. | ||||||
| E. Grieve/R. Hardy: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board considers the on-site treatment, storage, transport, and sale of bulk water, not including water bottling, from 2400/2410 Sackville Road (PID 002-904-713) as a Home Occupation use in Bylaw No. 520, being the “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw, No. 520, 2019”;
AND FURTHER THAT the Comox Valley Regional District provide the referral comments on Provincial Referral (CVRD File: 20004026 C 22), attached to this report as (Appendix A), that onsite treatment, storage, transport, and sale of bulk water, not including water bottling, is permitted as a Home Occupation use, subject to Bylaw No. 520, being the “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw.No. 520, 2019”. | ||||||
| 208 and 213 | Carried | NAY: D. Arbour | ||||
| The meeting recessed at 5:16 pm and resumed at 5:22 pm. | ||||||
| COMOX VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION – MARCH 7, 2023 | ||||||
| D. Hillian/E. Grieve: THAT the Sewage Commission minutes dated March 7, 2023 be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| COMOX VALLEY RECREATION COMMISSION - MARCH 2 & 7, 2023 | ||||||
| E. Grieve/W. Morin: THAT the following minutes be received: | ||||||
| - Recreation Commission minutes dated March 2, 2023; and, [Item] | ||||||
| - Recreation Commission minutes dated March 7, 2023. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| The agenda was varied with the consent of the Board to bring agenda item 7 - 2023-2027 Financial Plan and Capital Expenditure Program - forward on the agenda. | ||||||
| 2023-2027 FINANCIAL PLAN AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAM | ||||||
| Prior to consideration of this item, Director Arbour recused himself from the meeting at 5:26 pm, declaring a potential conflict of interest due to business relations with the Hornby Island Community Economic Enhancement Corporation. | ||||||
| D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT the report dated March 17, 2023 regarding the 2023-2027 financial plan and to recommend that the Comox Valley Regional District Board give three readings to Bylaw No. 760 being “Comox Valley Regional District 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan and Capital Expenditure Program Bylaw No. 760” (Bylaw No. 760) be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| K. Douville, Manager of Financial Planning, presented an overview of the 2023-2027 financial plan. [Item] | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board give first, second and third readings to Bylaw No. 760 being “Comox Valley Regional District 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan and Capital Expenditure Program Bylaw No. 760”. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| Director Arbour returned to the meeting at 5:48 pm. | ||||||
| GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY STRATEGY | ||||||
| D. Hillian/E. Grieve: THAT the report dated March 16, 2023 regarding preliminary actions to be taken for advocacy on the topics of Active Transportation, Climate Crisis Response and Housing as directed by the Board at the January 2023 interim Strategic Planning Session, as well as further topics recommended by staff be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| C. Wile, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives, provided an overview of the report regarding the government advocacy strategy. | ||||||
| D. Arbour/M. McCollum: THAT the preliminary actions for advocacy be endorsed, including the addition of the Ministries of Forestry and Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, as described in Appendix A of the staff report dated March 16, 2023;
AND THAT staff provide recommendations on how to include health and safer communities as a priority for advocacy. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| 2023 CLEAN TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Arbour: THAT the report dated March 16, 2023 regarding the draft response to a stakeholder engagement process being conducted by the Province on the development of the provincial Clean Transportation Action Plan be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| A. Mullaly, General Manager of Planning & Development, provided an overview of the the draft response to a stakeholder engagement process being conducted by the Province on the development of the provincial Clean Transportation Action Plan. | ||||||
| D. Hillian/D. Arbour: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District response to the provincial Clean Transportation Action Plan stakeholder engagement process be submitted as included in Appendix A of this staff report dated March 16, 2023. | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS: | ||||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 741 being "Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 12" be amended at second reading to correct the mis-numbering of the bylaw. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 and 213 | Carried | |||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 747 being “Comox Valley Regional District Information Access and Privacy Protection Bylaw No. 747, 2023” be given first and second readings concurrently. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/M. McCollum: THAT Bylaw No. 747 being "Comox Valley Regional District Information Access and Privacy Protection Bylaw No. 747, 2023" be read a third time. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| Prior to consideration of Bylaw No. 760, Director Arbour recused himself from the meeting at 6:12 pm, declaring a potential conflict of interest due to business relations with the Hornby Island Community Economic Enhancement Corporation. | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT Bylaw No. 760 being “Comox Valley Regional District 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan and Capital Expenditure Program Bylaw No. 760” be given first and second readings concurrently. [Item] | ||||||
| 210 | Carried | |||||
| D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 760 being "Comox Valley Regional District 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan and Capital Expenditure Program Bylaw No. 760" be read a third time. | ||||||
| 210 | Carried | |||||
| E. Grieve/M. McCollum: THAT Bylaw No. 760 being "Comox Valley Regional District 2023 to 2027 Financial Plan and Capital Expenditure Program Bylaw No. 760" be adopted. | ||||||
| 210 | Carried | |||||
| NOTE: The above bylaw received two-thirds affirmative vote for approval. | ||||||
| Director Arbour returned to the meeting at 6:14 pm. | ||||||
| K. Grant/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT Bylaw No. 748 being "Black Creek-Oyster Bay Water Local Service Area Bylaw 1993, Amendment No. 18" be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 755 being "Comox Valley Water Systems Regulation Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2866, 2006, Amendment No. 13" be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/D. Arbour: THAT Bylaw No. 756 being "Union Bay Water Tolls and Other Charges Bylaw 278, 2020, Amendment No. 6" be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 207 | Carried | |||||
| D. Arbour/M. McCollum: THAT Bylaw No. 757 being "Royston Water Service Regulation, Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2010, Amendment No. 4" be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 207 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT Bylaw No. 758 being "Comox Valley Water Local Service Area Parcel Tax Bylaw 2001, Amendment No. 2" be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT Bylaw No. 759 being “Black Creek- Oyster Bay Water Service Regulation, Fees and Charges Bylaw 2008, Amendment No. 11” be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| NEW BUSINESS: | ||||||
| ZONING BYLAW NO. 520 | ||||||
| D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT a new business item regarding revisions to Bylaw No. 520 being “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw, No. 520, 2019" be considered. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| E. Grieve/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT staff prepare a report for the Electoral Areas Services Committee regarding possible revisions to Bylaw No. 520 being “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw, No. 520, 2019" in regards to water sales as a home occupation use. | ||||||
| 208 and 213 | Carried | |||||
| PROVINCIAL POVERTY REDUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOMINATION | ||||||
| K. Grant/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT a new business item regarding a report dated March 21, 2023 regarding an opportunity to respond to the Union of BC Municipalities March 15, 2023 call for expressions of interest from local government elected officials or staff to represent UBCM on the provincial Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee be considered. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT Lisa Kilpatrick, the Comox Valley Regional District’s Economic Recovery and Community Resilience Coordinator, be nominated to the Union of BC Municipalities as their representative on the Provincial Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| ADJOURN TO IN-CAMERA: | ||||||
| The Board adjourned to an in-camera session at 6:25 pm. | ||||||
| RISE AND REPORT: | ||||||
| The Board rose from its in-camera session at 6:59 pm. | ||||||
| TERMINATION: | ||||||
| D. Arbour/K. Grant: THAT the meeting terminate. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| Time: 6:59 pm. | ||||||
| Confirmed this _______ day of ______ 20___:
____________________________________ Jesse Ketler Chair | |
| Certified Correct and Recorded By: ____________________________________ Lisa Dennis Manager of Legislative Services |