 | COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD | |
| Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | ||
| Minutes of the meeting of the Comox Valley Regional District Board of Directors held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 in the Civic Room of the Comox Valley Regional District offices located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC commencing at 4:06 pm. | ||
| MINUTES | ||
| Present: | ||
| Chair: | W. Cole-Hamilton | City of Courtenay |
| Vice-Chair: | J. Kerr | Town of Comox |
| Directors: | D. Arbour | Baynes Sound-Denman/Hornby Islands (Area A) |
| V. Brown | Village of Cumberland | |
| K. Grant | Town of Comox | |
| E. Grieve | Puntledge/Black Creek (Area C) | |
| R. Hardy | Lazo North (Area B) | |
| D. Hillian | City of Courtenay | |
| M. McCollum | City of Courtenay | |
| W. Morin | City of Courtenay | |
| Staff: | J. Warren | Chief Administrative Officer |
| L. Wiwcharuk | Chief Financial Officer | |
| J. Martens | General Manager of Corporate Services | |
| D. DeMarzo | General Manager of Community Services | |
| A. Mullaly | General Manager of Planning and Development | |
| M. Rutten | General Manager of Engineering Services | |
| L. Dennis | Manager of Legislative Services | |
| 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 40 - Justice: We call on all levels of government, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, to create adequately funded and accessible Aboriginal-specific victim programs and services with appropriate evaluation mechanisms. | ||||||
| ADOPTION OF MINUTES: | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated January 9, 2023 be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES: | ||||||
| DELEGATION FOLLOW UP - COMOX VALLEY CYCLING COALITION | ||||||
| J. Warren, Chief Administrative Officer, provided a verbal update on follow-up with the January 9, 2024 delegation from the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition and their request for a reallocation of grant funding to specific third party consulting projects that resolve uncertainties around rail trail construction in the CVRD and along the entire Island Corridor. | ||||||
| CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY AMENDMENT | ||||||
| D. Hillian/W. Morin: THAT the amended CVRD Board Code of Conduct Policy P78 be approved. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS: | ||||||
| BEAUFORT WATERSHED STEWARDS | ||||||
| Dave Weaver, President, Beaufort Watershed Stewards (BWS), presented the findings of the Tsable River Watershed Cumulative Effects Assessment project completed in 2023 with funding from the CVRD. [Item] | ||||||
| REPORTS: | ||||||
| ELECTORAL AREAS SERVICES COMMITTEE – JANUARY 8, 2024 | ||||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT the Electoral Areas Services Committee minutes dated January 8, 2024 be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/V. Brown: THAT the following resolution be submitted for consideration at the April 2024 Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Annual General Meeting and Convention:
WHEREAS residential development in portions of unincorporated areas designated as suitable for increased dwelling density through regional growth strategies and official community plans will enhance the supply of housing in British Columbia; AND WHEREAS a key constraint in increasing dwelling density in these areas is locating adequately sized green infrastructure such as rain gardens and infiltration swales that protect stream systems and overall watershed health, and reduce risk to downstream property; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, in alignment with policy direction set out in the March 2023 Intentions Paper for the Watershed Security Strategy, the Province of BC investigate options to permit green infrastructure and low impact development rainwater management measures for private property and public roads within provincial public highway rights of way. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| COMOX VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION – JANUARY 9, 2024 | ||||||
| D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT the Sewage Commission minutes dated January 9, 2024 be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| PUBLIC HEARING - BYLAW NO. 792 | ||||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT the minutes of the public hearing held January 16, 2024 for Bylaw No. 792 being "Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 13" (7200 Forbidden Plateau Road - Fry/ Hnatyshyn/ Galbraith-Hamilton) be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| 2024-2028 PROPOSED FINANCIAL PLAN | ||||||
| D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT the report dated January 16, 2024 regarding an overview of the 2024-2028 Proposed Financial Plan be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| L. Wiwcharuk, Chief Financial Officer, presented an overview of the 2024-2028 Proposed Financial Plan. [Item] | ||||||
| BC'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION: REGULATIONS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES DISCUSSION PAPER FEEDBACK | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: Report dated January 18, 2024 outlining key changes to the old Emergency Program Act and to present feedback to the Provincial Regulations for Local Authorities’ discussion paper for receipt. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| C. McIntyre, Emergency Planning Coordinator, provided an overview of the report regarding key changes to the old Emergency Program Act and feedback for the Provincial Regulations for Local Authorities’ discussion paper. | ||||||
| K. Grant/W. Morin: THAT feedback to the Regulations on Local Authorities Discussion Paper be received and submitted to the Province of BC as feedback by the January 31, 2024 deadline;
AND FURTHER THAT the Comox Valley Regional District submit a joint letter with Comox Valley Emergency Management Service members and partners to the Premier and Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness requesting a local government emergency management operational working group to collaborate in developing regulations under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act. | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FUNDING PROGRAM | ||||||
| D. Hillian/W. Morin: THAT the report dated January 18, 2024 regarding the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act (Act) replacing the old Emergency Program Act, including new requirements for local authorities to meaningfully engage with Indigenous Governing Bodies, and a proposed opportunity to explore an option to pool Provincial Indigenous Engagement Requirements Funding program funds offered individually to each of the Comox Valley Emergency Management Service members and partners be received.
[Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| C. McIntyre, Emergency Planning Coordinator, and H. Siemens, Manager of Emergency Programs, provided an overview of the report regarding the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act (Act) including new requirements for local authorities to meaningfully engage with Indigenous Governing Bodies. | ||||||
| D. Hillian/V. Brown: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District invite Comox Valley Emergency Management Service members and partners to pool Emergency and Disaster Management Act Implementation - Indigenous Engagement Requirements Funding Program program funds;
AND FURTHER THAT the Comox Valley Emergency Management Service uses those funds to co-develop and facilitate Indigenous engagement activities intended to assist with development and implementation of emergency management agreements, plans, and the inclusion of cultural safety and Indigenous knowledge, to enhance the regional emergency management outcomes and safety of all. | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| 2024 UBCM COMMUNITY - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND APPLICATIONS | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the report dated January 17, 2024 regarding approval to apply to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Emergency Operations Centre Equipment and Training & Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training funding stream be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| C. McIntyre, Emergency Planning Coordinator, and H. Siemens, Manager of Emergency Programs, provided an overview of the report regarding approval to apply to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Emergency Operations Centre Equipment and Training & Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training funding stream. | ||||||
| E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT a regional application to the Union of BC Municipalities Community Preparedness Fund (Emergency Operations Centre Equipment and Training Stream) in the amount of up to $150,000 to further build our regional capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate, be approved;
AND FURTHER THAT the Comox Valley Regional District agrees to manage the funding for the grant in 2024-2025 on behalf of K’ómoks First Nation, City of Courtenay, Village of Cumberland, and the Town of Comox. | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/W. Morin: THAT a regional application to the Union of BC Municipalities Community Preparedness Fund (Emergency Support Services (ESS) Equipment and Training Stream) in the amount of up to $150,000 to assist with the modernization of ESS and to build capacity to ensure that group lodging and reception centres are delivered in a trauma aware and culturally safe environment, be approved;
AND FURTHER THAT the Comox Valley Regional District agrees to manage the funding for the grant in 2024-2025 on behalf of K’ómoks First Nation, City of Courtenay, Village of Cumberland, and the Town of Comox. | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| ISLAND RAIL CORRIDOR PLANNING EXERCISE WORKPLAN | ||||||
| M. McCollum/K. Grant: THAT the report dated January 19, 2024 regarding the proposed workplan for the Island Rail Corridor planning exercise be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| J. Martens, General Manager of Corporate Services, provided an overview of the report regarding the proposed workplan for the Island Rail Corridor planning exercise. | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the workplan for the Island Rail Corridor planning exercise as outlined in the staff report dated January 19, 2024, be approved. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS: | ||||||
| Director Grieve left the meeting at 5:55 pm | ||||||
| K. Grant/W. Morin: THAT Bylaw No. 792 being "Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 13" be read a third time. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 and 213 | Carried | |||||
| K. Grant/W. Morin: THAT Bylaw No. 815 being "Comox Valley Regional District Parkland Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 238, 2012, Amendment No. 2" be adopted. [Item] | ||||||
| 209 | Carried | |||||
| Director Grieve returned to the meeting at 5:57 pm. | ||||||
| NEW BUSINESS: | ||||||
| ASSOCIATION OF VANCOUVER ISLAND COASTAL COMMUNITIES RESOLUTIONS | ||||||
| K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT the correspondence dated January 17, 2024 from Chair Cole-Hamilton regarding two resolutions to the AVICC regarding housing study work and the extreme weather response shelter system be received. [Item] | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| M. McCollum/J. Kerr: THAT the following resolution regarding non-market housing feasibility study work be submitted for consideration at the April 2024 Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Annual General Meeting and Convention:
WHEREAS non-market housing is in critical need throughout the province, and the provision of such housing is currently severely challenged by supply conditions, lack of adequate funding, and lack of capacity by local governments to support the provision and management of such housing; AND WHEREAS some municipalities and regional districts in British Columbia have created entities, such as housing authorities, which successfully increase the supply of non-market housing by providing and managing such housing, the process of planning and then creating these entities involves significant staff time and other costs; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities petition the Province of BC to provide grant funding for municipalities and regional districts to plan and create entities that provide and manage non-market housing in their communities. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| W. Morin/D. Hillian: THAT the following resolution regarding an extreme weather response shelter system be submitted for consideration at the April 2024 Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Annual General Meeting and Convention:
WHEREAS the Extreme Weather Response (EWR) shelter system was developed more than a decade ago to support community organizations in providing lifesaving warm, safe places for unhoused community members to sleep in cold and wet weather, the EWR model does not provide any funding for facility rental costs, security, equipment or resource purchases, nor does it provide any funds for these community organizations to plan for, develop, and deliver EWR shelters in their communities; AND WHEREAS since the EWR program was developed the number of community members experiencing homelessness has grown substantially, and the needs of those community members have, often due to addiction and mental health challenges, become increasingly complex, community organizations in many communities have been unable to provide life-saving EWR shelters with the limited resources available; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities and Union of BC Municipalities petition the Province of British Columbia to recognize that the EWR program is insufficient to address current social challenges and community capacity to meet those challenges; and that a Provincially driven solution be determined in collaboration with community leaders to ensure that; • service delivery by existing provincial agencies that are tasked with providing social service supports, including shelter spaces and wraparound services, is strengthened and • adequate funds are available to rent facilities, provide security and necessary equipment such that the community organizations that are tasked to deliver this program are appropriately resourced. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| TERMINATION: | ||||||
| K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the meeting terminate. | ||||||
| 208 | Carried | |||||
| Time: 6:06 pm. | ||||||
| Confirmed this 5th day of February, 2024: ____________________________________ Will Cole-Hamilton Chair | |
| Certified Correct and Recorded By: ____________________________________ Lisa Dennis Manager of Legislative Services |