Courtenay Council Meeting Highlights for July 26

July 28, 2023

This update covers highlights from the July 26, 2023 Council meeting. If there’s something from the meeting that you’d like more detail on, the full agenda, video, and minutes (when available) of each meeting are posted on the City of Courtenay website at www.courtenay.ca/councilmeetings 

Council respectfully acknowledged that the lands on which this meeting was conducted are the Unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation.

Acknowledgements

Councillor Hillian: We join the K'ómoks First Nation and the Comox Valley in mourning the passing on July 13th of Mary Everson, the matriarch of the Everson family. Mary grew up with a strong foundation of traditional culture, her dad a hereditary chief of the Pentlatch peoples and her mom a Kwagu’t noblewoman from Fort Rupert.

Mary was a fixture in the local community and beyond, serving as a board member at the Courtenay Museum, the Aboriginal Women’s Council of BC and Yukon, and the BC Native Court Workers. She was also a founder of the Upper Island Women of Native Ancestry and the Kumugwe Cultural Society, and regularly taught at Elder College, also spreading her teachings at workshops in the Bighouse and elsewhere.

Mary’s guidance and inspiration supported the growth of her numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family members to become artists, hunters, fishers, guardians and language teachers.

On behalf of the City and our residents, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Mary’s family, her friends and her Nation.

Councillor Jolicoeur: On August 26th, the Comox Valley will celebrate its first ever Pride Parade and Pride in the Park event co-hosted by Queer Culture and the Comox Valley Pride Society. Pride in the Park is a free, family-friendly event that includes music and entertainment, food, vendors, and kids zone.

The Pride Parade begins at 12:00 p.m. at the intersection of 5th Street and Fitzgerald Avenue and will end at Simms Park where festivities continue for Pride in the Park until 5:00 p.m

Staff Reports

External Reports

  • Lost Cat Signs – Debi Lister
    Council upheld the Parks Control Bylaw No. 1664 to not allow the placement of any sign within the limits of a park and asked staff to work with Debi Lister to approve the placement of "lost cat" signs using the sign permit process to allow for the installation of an approved sign(s) within the road allowance at the entrance to Condensory Park. The sign permit expiration date be extended from thirty days to one hundred and twenty days.

  • Request for Letter of Support – Immigrant Welcome Centre
    Council will send a letter of support for the Immigrant Welcome Centre’s funding application to expand their facilities for English language learners to the Province of BC.

Internal Reports

Council Reports

Members of Council are given the opportunity to describe various meetings and events they have attended. See attachments in the agenda with submitted written reports.

Statement from Geoff Garbutt, City Manager:

The Comox Valley water system, which includes the City of Courtenay, is on Stage 2 water restrictions. Although we have had some rain this week, we continue to be in drought conditions and have received more questions about summer water use. The City undertakes water education and enforcement with a combination of seasonal educators and if necessary, city bylaw staff.  The City of Courtenay employs two seasonal  Public Works Services Water Ambassadors to educate re: water restrictions. Door hangers are dropped off in an effort proactively engage and educate residents or businesses that are sprinkling outside of allowed times or days.  

If the Ambassadors encounter repeat offenders (the third door hanger), these situations are referred to City of Courtenay Bylaw Services for investigation/enforcement. Water use in the City is governed by the CVRD Water Conservation Bylaw No.129 and the City derives its enforcement abilities from this bylaw. All water restriction oriented complaints can be forwarded to bylaw@courtenay.ca. 

Thank you to our residents for their help conserving water this summer.

Unfinished Business

  • Dawn Collins – Cycling Without Age (Courtenay Chapter)
    Council will send a letter to thank Dawn Collins for the Cycling Without Age presentation and her personal efforts, and note that while the City is unable to consider financial or in-kind contributions to an informal group, should Cycling Without Age achieve non-profit status Ms. Collins is encouraged to resubmit her contribution request for Council’s consideration.

Bylaws

For First, Second and Third Readings

  • Zoning Amendment Bylaw No.3063 – 1814 Grieve
    Council gave first, second and third readings to  “Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3063” (1814 Grieve Ave) subject to the following conditions prior to adoption:
    -219 Covenant for Community Amenity Contributions;
    -219 Covenant to ensure a 3 m vegetation buffer is installed along the northeast and southeast property lines; and
    -A Preliminary Layout Review be issued.

  • Zoning Amendment Bylaw No.3095 – 4655a Madrona Place
    Council gave first, second and third readings to the above bylaw to add a day care use to permitted uses.

For Third Reading

  • Zoning Amendment Bylaw No.3037 – 1590 Piercy Avenue
    Council gave third reading to the above bylaw. Final reading of the bylaw will be withheld pending:
    a. registration of a Section 219 covenant to secure the community amenity contributions of $40,000, to be provided prior to issuance of a building permit; and
    b. registration of an easement to permit drainage from the subject property on to the Island Corridor Foundation lands.

For Adoption

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m., the next meeting is Wednesday, August 30, 2023 and will be available on the City of Courtenay’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/CityofCourtenayBC/streams