Courtenay Council Highlights for February 14, 2024

February 20, 2024

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This update covers highlights from the February 14, 2024 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.

Announcements

Councillor Hillian:

Courtenay Council would like to acknowledge the deaths of 33 Comox Valley community members in the period of January and December 2023 due to the unregulated toxic drug supply crisis, for a total of 175 deaths of Comox Valley Community members since the public health emergency was first declared. Our hearts go out to their loved ones. We want you to know their lives matter, and Council will continue to push for action and effective policy to stop these preventable and unnecessary deaths.

Mayor Wells:

Council will consider the 2024-2028 Financial Plan, the budget, on February 28. The Feb 28 regular Council meeting will start at 12:30 pm, and Council will review the budget starting at 4 pm. Council meetings are open to the public. You can attend these meetings in person at the CVRD Civic Room, 770 Harmston Ave, or view online on the City of Courtenay YouTube channel.

Delegations

  • Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce – Funding Request
    Delegation by Tracey Clarke, Executive Director, Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC), to present a proposal for the CVCC to develop and implement a Business Recruitment and Retention Program in collaboration with the municipalities of Courtenay and Comox. This program aims to foster economic growth and vitality in the region by addressing the current needs of the business community. The CVCC is requesting funding that can be shared with the Town of Comox based on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

 

  • The Brazilian Cultural Foundation – Funding Request
    Delegation by Alicia Fennell, the Brazilian Cultural Foundation, seeking financial assistance from the City of Courtenay to support the Indigenous Arts Festival, specifically for the intercultural event celebrating local indigenous and Brazilian indigenous cultures scheduled at the K’ómoks Big House on March 17, 2024.

 

  • Late Item: Working Toward System Change, Assessing Courtenay’s Approach to Homelessness

    Dayna Forsgren presented a report titled "Working towards System Change: Assessing Courtenay's Approach to End Homelessness," which included analysis of Bylaw No. 3121. The report focused on Courtenay's marginalized community members, their interactions with Courtenay Bylaw enforcement, and their concerns regarding proposed Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 3121, and proposed amendments to the bylaw.

Presentations

  • Comox Valley RCMP - Report for the 2nd & 3rd Quarters of 2023
    Sergeant Corey Kilborn presented the 2nd & 3rd Quarter reports.

    Council requested that the RCMP implement the downtown foot patrol program on an ongoing basis from April 1 to the Labour Day weekend. All costs related to this service will be included in the 2024 Financial Plan.

     

Staff Reports

  • Bylaw Dispute Adjudication System
    The overall aim of this system is to provide a mechanism for addressing contraventions of the City Municipal Bylaws through the issuance of Adjudication Notices. The focus is on community education, then voluntary compliance followed by a compliance-focused approach and if necessary a court process.

    Council directed staff to proceed with the preparation of all bylaws, policies, procedures, and agreements necessary to create a Bylaw Adjudication Program and authorized staff to work with the Province of BC as needed to gain provincial approval for the City of Courtenay to use the Bylaw Adjudication System as outlined in the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act.

 

  •  Zero Carbon Step Code
    Council adopted the Provincial Zero Carbon Step Code and directed staff to amend “Building Bylaw No. 3114, 2023" to include the Zero Carbon Performance Levels in accordance with the timelines established in the CleanBC Road Map for all applicable Part 3 and Part 9 buildings starting with EL2 in 2024 and EL3 in 2027 and EL 4 in 2030. Council directed staff to engage with the development industry and community to inform on the Zero Carbon Step Code and its mandates.

Bylaws

For Third Reading

Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw No. 3121
Council direct staff to report back on the following requests and amendments, as proposed in the report “Working Toward System Change – Assessing Courtenay’s Approach to Homelessness”:

  1. Remove the term “offensive” from section 5.9(b)
  2. Strike out “with or without shelter” from section 5.9(d)
  3. Strike out 5.9(g) in its entirety
  4. Incorporate language from the Bylaw Compliance Policy, which discusses how City employees should behave while enforcing the bylaw
  5. Include express language outlining trauma-informed bylaw enforcement
  6. Remove reference to “interfering with a bylaw officer in performing their duties” and replace with language that prohibits physical obstruction or interference with City employees while  carrying out their duties in parks
    a. Strike out Section 5.10(d) and combine it with 5.10 (c) 
  7. Strike out section 7.2(f)
  8. Strike out “and in doing so may be assisted by another such officer or a City personnel” from section 10.2, and consider specifying “emergency personnel”
  9. Add language to the bylaw that emphasized Social Service partnership and support 

    AND THAT Council direct staff to highlight options to work with Indigenous partners on the proposed bylaw in the report.

 

Internal Reports and Correspondence

Unfinished Business

  • Make Back Road Safe delegation
    Council directed staff to prepare a report on the requests from the January 24, 2024 Back Road delegation including speed reduction, noise, and safety concerns, and the request to prioritize Back Road in the first phase of reducing the speed limit for all collector roads to 40 km/h.

 

Notices of Motion
(For discussion at the February 28 Council Meeting)

  • Collaborate with Youth Climate Corps BC for Climate Action - Councillors Hillian and Cole-Hamilton
    WHEREAS youth are particularly impacted by the climate crisis and Youth Climate Corps BC is an organization that has worked successfully with local governments in BC to empower youth, providing paid work and training to young people in climate action projects that foster hope by helping to reduce emissions, build resiliency and adapt communities to the changing climate;

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to explore and report back on the possibility of the City working with the Youth Climate Corps, including potential funding sources and projects related to climate action, to engage the public in promoting climate change mitigation and resilience.

  • Active Transportation on Ryan Road - Councillor Frisch
    WHEREAS the Province and the City of Courtenay are both committed to Greenhouse Gas reduction, poverty reduction, and positive health care outcomes;

    WHEREAS safe cycling infrastructure and active transportation in general is an important part of achieving those goals;

    WHEREAS the City has endorsed a cycling infrastructure plan and begun the investment to provide cycling and active transportation infrastructure on the portions of Ryan Rd that fall within its control;

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to draft and send a letter on behalf of City Council, to the Minister's office to formally request:
    -A meeting with the Minister of Transportation;
    -Inclusion of active transportation infrastructure within Ministry of Transportation corridors, and;
    -That the local Courtenay office be directed to work with City of Courtenay staff to develop actionable plans for the inclusion of active transportation infrastructure on Ryan Road.

Bylaws

For First, Second and Third Readings

  • Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3120 (2923 Lupton Rd)
    Council gave first, second and third readings to “Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3120” (2923 Lupton Road) subject to the following conditions prior to adoption:

    - A Section 219 no build covenant be placed on title requiring a works and services agreement be executed prior to construction; and

    - A Preliminary Layout Review (PLR) be issued. 

For Adoption

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.

In Camera Resolution

THAT Council close the meeting to the public pursuant to the following subsections of the Community Charter:

90 (2) A part of a council meeting must be closed to the public if the subject matter being considered relates to one or more of the following:

(b) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the municipality 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 meeting adjourned at about 10:00 pm, the next meeting is Wednesday, February 28 and will be available on the City of Courtenay’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/CityofCourtenayBC/streams