Courtenay Council Meeting Highlights for June 14

This update covers highlights from the June 14, 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

On June 21st, the Comox Valley will celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day at the Puntledge RV Campground in Courtenay. The event will begin with a Welcoming Ceremony featuring Hereditary Chiefs, Elected Officials, Staff, and Delegates from the K'ómoks First Nation. The K'ómoks Festival 2023 will be held from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and is a free, family-friendly event with amenities such as free parking, washrooms, vendors, a kids zone, drumming, dancing, storytelling, carving, and entertainment.

External Reports

• RCMP Annual Performance Plan - Acknowledgement Letter (2023-2024)
  Council received the RCMP Annual Performance Plan - Acknowledgement Letter (2023-2024), RCMP Quarterly Statistics Report - 3rd Quarter (Oct-Dec 2022), RCMP Quarterly Statistics Report - 4th Quarter (Jan-Mar 2023), RCMP Courtenay Crime Data by Area (Jan-Mar 2023) and RCMP Courtenay Property Crime 2022-2023 (Year to Year comparison). Council directed staff to set-up a planning session with the RCMP in the fall of 2023.

Staff Reports

• Council Remuneration Options
  Council directed staff to update the Council Remuneration Policy and any applicable bylaws to include the following:
  a) To change benefits provider from UBCM to the City benefit provider in alignment with staff policy coverage,
  b) To provide a child/eldercare allowance of up to $3,300 per year, effective following the 2026 general local election,
  c) To provide Acting Mayor pay equivalent to 10% of Mayor’s remuneration during the acting month,
  e) To provide compensation to new council-elect members up to $200 per day for attending required City orientation and training sessions prior to the day of the Inaugural Meeting of Council,
  f) To include an annual remuneration increase equivalent to the CUPE annual contract increase as negotiated starting January 1, 2024,
  g) To consider amendments to the Council Remuneration Policy no later than December 31 in the year prior to a general local election.
  
  
• Development Variance Permit No. 2301-1095 Willemar Avenue
  Council approved an application to vary the definition of ‘secondary suite’ to increase the size of an existing secondary suite from 40% of the principal dwelling unit to 45% for the property located at 1095 Willemar Road.
  
  
• Development Permit with Variances No. 2306 – 943 2nd Street
  Council approved an application to permit a front yard setback variance from 7.5m to 4.6m and a side yard setback variance from 4.9m to 3.3m.
  
  
• 1375 Piercy Avenue – Affordable Housing Reserve Fund
  Council approved providing financial assistance in the amount of $211,340 through the Affordable Housing Amenity Reserve Fund for the off Site Works and Services associated with the Habitat for Humanity project located at 1375 Piercy Avenue to address both Lane and Piercy Ave offsite works.
  
  
• 2023 Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
  Council approved an application being made to the Union of BC Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Fund 2023 Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning for $30,000 to be used in 2023-2024 to support the regional application by the Comox Valley Regional District.
  
  
• 2023 Cycling Network Plan Update
  Council approved the 2023 Cycling Network Plan Update and Updated Cycling Network Plan Maps. Council also directed staff to prepare a Bylaw amendment to update the engineering standards and cross-sections within the updated plan.
  
  
• Arden Elementary School Green Team – Traffic Calming Requests
  Council directed staff to install the recommended signs, pavement markings, and speed reader boards on Lake Trail Road adjacent to Arden Elementary and that Council direct staff to direct a communication looking for financial support for the Safe and Active Schools Program to the Comox Valley Regional District and School District 71.

 

Bylaws

For First and Second Reading

• Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3037 – 1590 Piercy Ave
  Council passed first and second reading to amend Zoning Bylaw No. 2500, 2007 to create a new CD-39 Zone and rezone the subject property to CD-39 with the following conditions met prior to final adoption:
  
  a. A section 219 covenant registered on title to secure the community amenity contributions of $40,000 to be provided prior to issuance of the building permit.
  
  b. An easement to permit drainage from the subject property onto the Island Corridor Foundation lands; 
  
  Council directed staff to advertise a statutory Public Hearing for “Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3037”.
  
  

For First, Second and Third Reading

• Growing Communities Reserve Establishment Bylaw
  Council gave first, second and third readings to the Growing Communities Reserve Fund Establishment Bylaw 3086, 2023. 

Internal Reports

• Resident Survey, Your Courtenay, Your Voice
  Council was provided with an overview of the upcoming 2023 Resident Survey, “Your Courtenay, Your Voice”. Council identified a resident community survey as a strategic priority for 2023/2024, as soliciting feedback and input from residents is important and provides a better understanding of community perspectives and experiences.
  
  
• Bylaw Service Activities and Performance Update January - May 2023
  Bylaw services provided a performance report. Their services are community-based and customer focussed and have a significant impact on individual and community well-being and quality of life. To maximize value, these services must be efficient, effective, consistent, and equitable.
  
  

Council Reports

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

 

Unfinished Business

• Greg Porteous - Burning
  Council denied Greg Porteous' request for a conditional exemption to the fire ban and burn permit.

Notice of Motion

• Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman – Councillor Frisch
  This motion will come forward at a future Council Meeting. The request is for Council to send a letter to Minister Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change to request the Province exercise its authority and override development agreement covenants that restrict or prohibit renewable energy systems in all zones.
  
  
• Development Covenants - Removing the Barriers to the Generation of Renewable Energy - Provincial Focus AVICC and UBCM  - Councillor Frisch
  This motion will come forward at a future Council Meeting. This request is for Council to direct staff to draft a resolution and backgrounder in support of the elimination of development agreement covenants that restrict or prohibit renewable energy systems in all zones for Council’s consideration for submission to the 2024 AVICC and UBCM Conventions.

In Camera Resolution

Council closed 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:

(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;

(i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose

The meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m., the next meeting is Wednesday, June 28, 2023 and will be available on the City of Courtenay’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/CityofCourtenayBC/streams