Courtenay Council Meeting Highlights for June 26

This update covers highlights from the June 26, 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 Jolicoeur provided a statement, on behalf of Courtenay Council, to acknowledge the deaths of 14 Comox Valley community members in the period of January to April 2024 due to the unregulated toxic drug supply crisis, for a total of 191 deaths of Comox Valley Community members since the public health emergency was first declared.

Delegation

Request to amend Building Bylaw No. 3114, 2023 
Jessica Evans and Paul Myers, residents of Courtenay, are seeking a bylaw amendment to allow the relocation of homes older than 15 years. Cassidy Vander Ros, from Nickel Bros, represented the residents and provided a presentation on the benefits of relocating older homes.

Staff Reports

City of Courtenay 2023 Annual Report
Council approved the City of Courtenay 2023 Annual Report.

The City of Courtenay’s 2023 Annual Report highlights significant projects and initiatives, and incorporates statistics and data visualisation tools showing progress on a range of City services and Council Strategic Priorities.

Highlights from 2023 included:

• Updated City of Courtenay Strategic Priorities 2023-2026
• Construction on the Dingwall Steps Project
• New air quality monitors on City buildings along with a public education campaign on local air quality
• Parks and Recreation Master Plan Implementation Strategy
• Progress on Draft Aquatic Services Strategy
• Launch of organics program and increased waste diversion
• Resident Survey - “Your Courtenay, Your Voice”
• Strengthening Communities Services Grant administration on behalf of the Comox Valley
• Strategic Cultural Plan
• Bylaw Compliance Policy and Strategic Plan
• New graphic standards and progress on Communication Strategy

View the 2023 Annual Report

Development Variance Permit No. 2405 – 2599 Copperfield Road
Council approved this application to allow for a variance to the side yard setback from 3.5 m to 2.5 m in order to permit a proposed addition with external stairs to an existing single residential dwelling located at 2599 Copperfield Road.

Financial Information Act – 2023 Statement of Financial Information
Council approved the City of Courtenay Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) for the year ended December 31, 2023. View the 2023 SOFI report [PDF - 2 MB] 

 

2025-2026 RCMP Municipal Policing Contract:  Approval in Principle
The Comox Valley RCMP detachment is a combined Provincial/Municipal detachment which provides police protection services for the entire Comox Valley. Of the 64 members currently staffed in the detachment, 21 are funded by the Province, 31.4 are funded by Courtenay, and 11.6 are funded by Comox. The RCMP’s fiscal year runs April 1, through March 31.

Council provided “approval in principle” for an expenditure cap of $9,015,110 for the 2025/2026 Municipal Policing Contract.

External Reports

Letter from Millard Piercy Watershed Stewards
Council approved the Millard Piercy Watershed Stewards erecting 10 tents on City property located on the green space between the parking lot on Mansfield Drive and the Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk on September 22, 2024, Family Watershed Day, to present information on topics related to the health of watersheds and their inhabitants.

Bylaws

For Third Reading

Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No.3141, 2024
Council gave third reading to this Bylaw to designate municipally owned land at 11th Street Terminus at the Courtenay River as Urban Corridor.

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   (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;

(j) information that is prohibited, or information that if it were presented in a document would be prohibited, from disclosure under section 21 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and

(k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:12 p.m., the next meeting is Wednesday, July 17 and will be available on the City of Courtenay’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/CityofCourtenayBC/streams