Courtenay Council Meeting Highlights for October 25

October 27, 2023

This update covers highlights from the October 25, 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.

In Camera Resolution

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

 90 (1) (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;

(2) (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.

Council re-opened the meeting.

Acknowledgements

Councillor Morin: Courtenay Council would like to acknowledge the deaths of 21 Comox Valley community members in the period of January to August 2023 due to the unregulated toxic drug supply crisis, for a total of 163 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.

Presentations

  • BC Housing – Shelter and Supportive Housing Update
    Presentation by Sarah Smith, Director of Development for Vancouver Island, to provide an update on shelter and supportive housing in Courtenay including properties in progress, emergency shelter and The Lodge Supportive Housing at 1885 Cliffe Avenue.

Staff Reports

  • 685 Cliffe Avenue – Lease Renewal and Temporary Washroom Consideration
    Council approved a one-year lease extension between the City of Courtenay and the Comox Valley Transition Society for the continued use of the property located at 685 Cliffe Avenue (the Connect Centre). Council directed staff to explore the placement of a temporary washroom facility adjacent to the Connect Centre.

  • Parks and Recreation Master Plan – Implementation Strategy
    Presentation by Catherine Berris, Community Planner and Landscape Architect, Urban Systems on the strategy. Council approved the final draft of the Implementation Strategy which prioritizes and guides the City’s work plan, capital and operational expenditures, and strategic initiatives related to park and recreation matters over the next ten years.

  • Crown Isle Speed Limit Reduction Pilot Project
    Staff reported on the results of the pilot project. Council directed staff to:
  1. Retain the 40km/h speed reduction for the trial area located within the Crown Isle neighbourhood.
  2. Expand the speed reduction program to include all residential neighbourhoods within the City of Courtenay’s jurisdictional boundary, with the exclusion of all roads classified as either arterial and industrial or designated as a truck route, as time and resources allow.
  3. Prioritize the implementation of an expanded speed reduction program with installation focused on the Safe Active Schools Program and the Cycling Network Plan.

  1. Remove the locations that are recommended for a “remove” strategy for the next three years.
  2. Return to the locations that are recommended for a “monitor” and “repeat” strategy.
  3. Request RCMP speed enforcement for the locations that are recommended for a “speed enforcement” strategy.

External Reports

Council Resolutions

  • Zero Carbon Step Code – Councillor Cole-Hamilton & Councillor McCollum
    Council passed the following resolution:
    WHEREAS the City of Courtenay’s new Official Community Plan (OCP) has identified climate action goals and aims to reduce GHG emissions in our community by 45% below 2016 levels by 2030;

    WHEREAS OCP policy BL 6 commits the City to “Advocate to and support the Province in amending the BC Building Code and other building related policies to: a) regulate carbon pollution for new buildings as soon as possible” and policy BL 7 commits the City to “Review and update immediately relevant building, zoning, and development permitting policies upon any new legislative authorities that support policies within BL 6;” and

    WHEREAS the Province has responded to advocacy by the City and numerous other local governments by introducing the Zero Carbon Step Code which provides new authority to local governments to regulate carbon pollution from new buildings;

    THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to policies BL6 and BL7 of Courtenay’s OCP, staff prepare a report outlining options for implementing the Zero Carbon Step Code in order to meet the City's 2030 emissions reduction target.

Bylaws

For Final Adoption

  • Consideration of 2024 Permissive Property Tax Exemptions 3091, 3110, 3111, 3112, 3092
    Council adopted Bylaws 3110, 3111, 3112, 3092.

    Council defeated the motion to adopt and rescinded third reading for Bylaw 3091. Council amended 3091 to remove Aaron House Ministries and gave notice for a special meeting of Council for Bylaw 3091 prior to  October 31, 2023 deadline and directed staff to update the Permissive Tax Exemption policy by June 2024.

    Council is going to consider giving Aaron House Ministries a grant in the amount of the permissive tax exemption once the policy is updated 

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

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

90 (a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;  

(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;

(2) (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 9:20 p.m., the next meeting is Wednesday, November 15 and will be available on the City of Courtenay’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/CityofCourtenayBC/streams