Committee of the Whole

Good afternoon, everyone, and uh call this meet uh committee of the whole meeting of May 10th to order.

And we recognize the Lakwungan speaking people known today as the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation, and that their historic connections to these lands continues to this day.

This afternoon we will hear from the public during the public participation portion of the agenda.

And this evening we will hear from the public during the public participation and question period portions of the agenda.

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Could you say that again, please?

So can we have a motion to approve the agenda, please?

So moved.

Second.

Motion carried.

All those in favor.

And the minutes of the previous meeting, motion to adopt committee of the whole meeting April 12th.

All those in favor?

Yeah.

So carried.

Staff, do we have anyone on the call?

We have no one in the room.

Your worship, we have no callers at this time.

Thank you very much.

Um, and uh I guess it comes to protective services and community services.

Um, I'm acting mayor this evening.

I should, or this afternoon, I should just point out that um Mayor Screech is out of the room keeping his his virus to himself, but and I hope that this meeting runs in such a way that he doesn't feel a need to burst in here.

Um so uh here we go.

West Shore RCMP, Superintendent Kristen.

Thank you.

Lovely to see you.

Madam Mayor.

Council.

Uh thanks again for having me as always, um, I think this uh this month here I'm just gonna give you an overview of some of the calls for service.

We had 241 calls for service in View Royal the last month.

Um here's a sampling of some of the calls throughout April.

April 1st, uh, we received a youth was reported sexually assaulted by an adult co-worker at a rental unit in View Royal.

Uh statement was obtained.

Suspect's been arrested and released on an undertaking with conditions to have no contact with that individual.

On the second, a male was reported intoxicated in the area in Watkins Avenue.

An officer attended and located the male laying down part way on the road.

He was arrested uh for intoxicated in a public place.

He was held in the cells until sober and issued a violation ticket upon release.

April 6th, the vehicle was reported uh driving erratically in the 1600 block of Island Highway.

An officer located the vehicle near Helmcken and pulled it over.

The driver was identified and it was determined he was a prohibited driver.

Vehicle was impounded.

The driver was arrested, released on an appearance known as record.

April 10th, a report of a break and enter on a Giles.

Is it Giles Street?

Sorry?

Giles uh Street, thanks.

Um suspect broke into a garage and sold various tools.

The tools were posted on Facebook Marketplace.

So the victim believes it was a targeted crime.

Estimated $5,000.

Unfortunately, we did process the scene with our FIS unit.

We have no leads at this time here.

On April 15th, a concerned uh mother called about her youth son who had sent nude photos.

This is one of the ones that I've been telling you more and more.

We try to get the messaging out.

This individual thought that uh he was sending his uh his photos to an individual who was posing as a 15-year-old girl.

The suspect was now demanding money and extorting this young male who had sent nude photos.

Um we see this time and time and time again, and it's uh it's tragic.

It leads to a lot of depression and uh other significant issues by the youth.

Um, so we keep putting the message out and hopefully uh it'll get through.

Um April 22nd, uh there was a victim of a fraud.

Uh Giro called a report.

She received a call from Amazon talking about her account being in poor standing.

The suspect was advised that she would have to attend Best Buy and purchase $2,000 in gift cards, uh, which unfortunately she did.

Uh she then provided the serial number and the information to give cards to the suspect on the phone, and that file is still under investigation.

Um April 25th, VGH uh reported a male had arrived uh at the hospital with a single stab wound in his back.

Uh an officer attended and began the investigation.

The victim was not very forthcoming.

Um, we did glean from the investigation that the offense likely occurred in Victoria, and we uh work in partnership.

We we transferred the file over to Victoria for further investigation.

Uh April 25th, um, a resident of URL called to report she was in possession of an M305 semi-auto act rifle, which is now prohibited under the new uh regulations, and she simply just wanted to turn it over to us so we were able to uh retrieve that and we'll um destroy it appropriately.

As far as traffic uh section, we had uh 23 warnings, 19 tickets uh issued in your area uh for the five month, three impaired uh by alcohol, three driving while disqualified or prohibited, and six collisions.

So just kind of an overview.

I like uh like kind of switching it up every so often and just kind of giving you instead of uh strictly statistical data, give you kind of an overview.

Any questions?

Any questions?

Councillor Mattz.

Go ahead, first time okay.

Uh just want to follow up with the um uh minutes of the last committee of the whole, and I I don't know if it um regarded or not, but um requested that uh you provide the mayor and and uh CAO with the requested staffing numbers per capita to ensure that um uh all partners are providing with the same personnel, the same understanding.

You know, you know.

Yes.

I don't have that with me, but um I will get that to the CAO.

Um essentially what we're trying to achieve is um a cop to pop ratio.

We I think we talked about this last time, did we not?

About the maintaining so it's very consistent across the board that everybody's paying their fair share.

And um Lankford obviously their cop to pop ratio um was the only one that's different from the other communities just because of the the large volume of commercial and and greater amounts of files.

When we actually work the numbers of one to eight seventy-five and one to seven fifty, um they actually work out very, very within you know a couple percent every year of uh calls for service versus uh contributions.

So, you know, we've able we've been able to kind of navigate the partnership that way.

Um it seems if we can maintain that um and get everybody to buy in with that i think we run the risk of not fracturing a relationship by everybody pointing the finger at each other saying you don't pay enough and you pay obviously it's gonna vary every year there is yeah there's no way to you're gonna have more files this year maybe you'll have less files next year and we've got to have some sort of be nimble to some degree but it uh you know in terms of fairness I think that's dialed in.

And so if I recall then our our ratio um per capita for on each officer is 750?

875.

875.

So one one police officer for one uh every 875.

Um and you guys are on track and good.

Um and everybody seems to be uh it's actually fantastic when you see um you know the ongoing disputes in other municipalities about policing.

Um this is you know as long as we can get everybody to sign off and and uh ratify this, I think we will be literally the model um model police agency uh certainly in one of them in British Columbia, if not the the country.

Uh and also with my last question the um interesting the dis the discussion um from the province about uh considering a regional police force for the CRD.

Any thoughts of that?

That's a political decision and not uh not for me to comment.

Yeah.

Okay.

You're right.

Counselor, thank you.

No, that's right.

Ron, you asked your question, right?

No.

Oh, I'm sorry.

So how did that happen?

I know when we get older, sometimes in two or three minutes we forget what's asked.

Ask your question.

Yeah, I mean one of the things I think I mentioned you before, the Prime Minister in his speech had mentioned one of the worst things we have to work, biggest things we have to worry about are these right-wing radical groups, et cetera, et cetera.

And you said you're gonna come back with uh to find out what what he was actually referring to and and how that relates to BC and Yeah, I've got to be honest, uh counselor.

I've forgotten that and I uh yeah, so the question again do you have a missed call?

Um yeah, exactly.

Hey.

Um so the question again, though?

Uh the again, something the prime minister said, you know, right wing radicals or whatever the current term is for them.

He said that was one of the biggest concerns we had to to worry about in in Canada.

So in terms of policing and things.

I'm it sounds more like it's coming from the States because I certainly don't anyways.

I I just like comment on it because I don't understand Yeah, I can comment.

I mean here I haven't seen in your right.

I think it's uh and we see it all too often where you see you know, some of the policing and some of the societal issues, and um, we all get painted with the same brush, you know, in terms of societal problems, policing problems, all that sort of stuff.

Uh I haven't seen any extremist groups.

Uh I mean, they're out there.

There is extremist groups.

We have, you know, national security teams constantly working.

Um, but in terms of what I think you're talking about is overt uh people that are front and center.

Um, if that's what you're referring to.

Well, that's what I was just curious.

Like, you know, I don't see people putting swastikas on synagogues and all the other things that you know the I mean I'll put it if if I thought it was a concern, I'd I'd bring it up to you.

Um, I don't see it as a concern here.

Yes, we have chakra con convoys uh and whatever.

I mean, you're everybody here is well versed on you know that uh particular issue, and um we haven't had significant issues, but we've had more issues with um say you know the old growth forest and people gluing themselves to the highway and uh and blocking highways, uh Ferry Creek, old growth, pipeline stuff.

Um I mean, those are the those are the overt kind of things that we deal with uh more day to day.

And the only other question you had is we have anything that we should be worried about that's coming up, anything.

Um there's nothing that's presented itself other than growing communities.

You have a growing community here, and so, with that, my advice is always stay in front of it.

Um, and and I you guys have done a great job.

If uh all the communities have I've been very pro-police, uh pro-community.

Um, no, we're good.

Uh, yes, we can always use more resources, but so can everybody else.

I do have one more.

We bikers, yeah, bike gangs, etc.

Again, you every now and then you see somebody with uh colors on, but well, you would have saw probably close to 50 to 75 of them here last weekend.

They were here down the the Zeke run, they call it uh for in memory of one of their fallen members uh of their club.

And they do this, it's an annual event that they they come down from uh the ride from the Naimo, and sometimes they stay here.

This year they came down from the Naimo, uh partied here a little bit at the clubhouse in in Langford, and then went back up to uh in the Naimo.

And I mean, we we know that event every year, we we maintain it, we follow it.

Two years ago, we did find a handgun and some drugs uh on one individual who was arrested but uh this year my understanding is went no issues other than you'll see lots of Hell's angel colors uh in the neighborhood thanks okay mayor screech do you have any questions I don't I am here although my image is frozen for some reason check on you I think so still I don't have um any specific questions, thank you.

On on the cop or pop, I think Kim and the other CAOs were doing some work on that, and we're going to bring it back to us for um discussion and possible motions.

So good, thank you.

Um couple of points, well, a point from me.

Um Norki, I understand is still quite active and and um your member is on it best he can be, but you know, there's it's from what I can see it's quite frequent.

Um and just uh back to bikers and and the the and the political issue that you referenced.

I saw a clip today, a media clip, um of a from a Victoria counselor who is a proposed candidate for mayor and is in favor of a regional force.

And one of the reasons he put forth was the biker gangs that have established in Langford.

And I don't know, I guess the inference was that you, you know, uh the RCMP are unable to eradicate.

I don't, I you know, that's my word, um, control um, whatever, and with the pre regional um force uh presumably things might be different.

I just put that out there.

I think that's uh probably a fairly naive comment by uh whoever made that comment.

There you go.

Just put it there.

Okay.

We do have, by the way, we did start up a uniform gang task force here, um, which is made up of three uh fully trained ERT members who are also half their mandate is focusing on exactly that.

Um they've done a good job so far.

I believe it.

Mayor Screech.

Thanks, Jerry.

I just I wonder maybe at our next committee of the whole, if we should have that um that report on our agenda for discussion, or just at least for information and for receipt, and we may want to discuss it and we may want to um send a letter to the province in support of the RCMP and our current model of sub-regional policing before it gets too far down the road.

Anyhow, I'm presupposing, but I I think we should um have that report on an agenda for us to discuss.

So maybe the next committee of the whole.

That'd be grand.

Good.

Okay.

Thanks.

That support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much.

There you go.

So then rather than sending the off to uh Innovicus for a new detachment.

Yes, yes.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

Good to see you.

See you on a ride-along.

Okay, just oh, I'll send him a note right alone.

Yes, you will.

Yeah, it's a good point.

Now that with the COVID diminishing, ride-alongs might be possible again.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, there was no action online.

There was nothing happenable at that point.

Nothing.

Chief Hearst.

Good afternoon.

Welcome.

Very nice to see you.

Madam Chair, members of council.

Always a pleasure to be here.

Good.

Um you have reports.

I have a few reports uh for you today.

We'll start with our public safety report for the months of March and April 2022.

And I'll get back to this shortly.

Just one fire of note in View Royal in March, a townhouse fire on Craig Flower that was handled quickly by the day shift crews.

Turned out to be a juvenile fire setter issue, which our fire prevention officer is currently managing with the family through counseling services in our juvenile fire setter intervention program.

So we're seeing a um a successful resolve to that particular incident.

Training continues at a feverish pace as we have several new recruits.

And we're on a on a steep trajectory to get our new membership trained up in everything they need to be trained up in nowadays to function as a firefighter in the field.

As usual, Troy in his emergency management program.

I am pleased to uh announce, and as you've probably seen it, the area across from Adams Storage on the Trans Canada Highway has now been cleaned up.

I'm more than impressed with the work that was done by the ministry in doing that.

And I understand they're going to be going across the road to dismantle that bike/slash BMX park that's in the riparian area, and they'll be cleaning that area up as well.

Very pleased.

Uh they took out countless, countless uh 40-yard skid dumpsters of materials out of that, uh, out of that area.

So that's that's nice.

That opens it up and it actually looks it actually looks pretty nice in there now, and very pleased with uh the response from the ministry.

Looking at uh statistically, um oh sorry, and just just one other thing of note in the uh that our bylaw officer made mention of the second paragraph there.

Um Jim and I had a discussion about um him moving to a bike-based patrol system in the summer months.

And uh I will send you some photos of the the bike and the outfit.

Jim's been hitting the road on the bike, and it's actually working quite well going through our our parks and the goose and EN, and he's able to sort of transit through the community and quite honestly keeps the pickup truck off the road.

He's not burning fuel, he's he's out on his bike, so it's serving actually a couple of purposes, and he's getting lots of positive feedback from residents because he's actually able to interact and so it's going quite well.

I'm really pleased.

That was his initiative, and um he uh he took that on, and I'm pleased we supported that.

So if you see Jim out there hitting on his bike with his helmet and bell, um he's uh he's doing a good job.

Jim is also uh doing a review of our false alarm bylaw, specifically as it pertains to Victoria General Hospital.

As you know, that building is a considerable draw to police services, and it can also be a considerable draw to fire services with false alarms.

We do have a false alarm bylaw.

However, uh several of the false alarms that have been happening have been created by patients for one reason or another.

It's not an internal problem with the building or staff mistakes.

It's it's anything from smoking in the rooms to you know uh a head injury patient pulling a pole station, but there has to be a mechanism to monitor this and recover some of our costs because they they are considerable with three fire departments responding to Victoria General.

So Jim is working with VHA right now to come up with a program in the city of Victoria and what Saanich do with their false alarms to the Jubilee, and I'll report back on that.

Great.

Um statistically wise, for the months of March and April, you'll notice in the category of structural fires for the month of March.

It shows there were we responded to 16 building fires.

Yet we only show the one of Uroyal.

Those were structural reported structural fires or fires that were located in Colwood Langford as well.

Under our automatic aid agreement, we respond to their fires, they respond to ours.

We only report on our dollar loss fires, uh, but we did have several reported fires that didn't result in a dollar loss.

In a one, I think it was about a three-week stretch there back in March.

We had 11, 11 working building fires in the western communities between the three departments.

That actually went quite well under our automatic aid plan where you know crews were on scene in four to five minutes and held the fires to the rooms of origins.

These were apartment fires, townhouse fires, and single family dwellings.

So there is an uptick in the Western communities.

We're sitting just shy of 90,000 people now in the West Shore.

Um and uh responding to close to about 4,500 emergencies a year between the three.

So it's it's definitely not um, it's not like it was in 1984.

It's a it's a completely different uh picture out there on the West Shore.

And uh so we're we're grateful for the help we get.

And I know Colwood and Langford are grateful the help that we send them.

So that's my monthly report for March and April, and then we'm more than happy to answer any questions.

Yeah thank you two questions.

Sir um one since the the campers have uh been moved yes have you noticed any difference in terms of impact on local residences well there's a there's a there's a saying for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction you move people from one area and they're gonna move to somewhere else um one or two of those people have moved to another place in Veroyal on ministry property and the ministry is keenly interested in that new location, and they're working actively to remove um that encampment.

That camp is located, and best describe it here um do you know the exit ramp for Burnside, where it's a bit of a ramp where you drive up the bridge and down the bridge is where the road is settled.

Underneath that bridge, there's about 10 uh tents, and it's a large encampment under the bridge.

Um, there's enough fuel load under there now that if a fire started in there, it would damage the bridge.

So MOTI is working actively and it's right on the creek.

Uh so they're working actively to get them out of there on their own initiative.

So some of those people moved to there.

This is part of a new camp.

The other camp that was of interest was up on the railway tracks just past the big trestle uh above Bryden.

That camp's been removed as well, and MOTI is going to go in there and have to clean clean that up as well.

Um, we've seen pretty good success with voluntary compliance with people moving on.

Um, you know, the work, I mean, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the work that Jim did with uh one of the campers, one of the homeless there in the a camp across from Adam Surge.

He'd been in there for probably anywhere from eight to ten years.

And he's now in housing, he has medical care, he's being looked after, and and things are working out quite quite well there for him.

So you're right.

There it it it does move around.

We haven't had any reports of upticks in crime.

I would I would defer to Todd on that one.

Any reductions?

Sorry?

Any reductions from the area that they've been displaced from?

I can say that the the transient population that wanders around that area has reduced significantly.

You know, those camps do attract people, and that seems to have cooled down.

I know in speaking with the communications people at the transit uh project, they're quite pleased that things have been cleaned up.

They did have some break and enders on their property and some sets.

So uh they haven't had any since that I'm aware of.

So I I I think it it's it's been a good outcome so far.

We'll just see time will tell.

Can you the other question I had was sort of following up on our other discussion we had before about when it comes to equipment purchases, is there any since we're doing all the mutual aid calls, etc., any sort of talk about balancing out equipment so everyone doesn't need uh absolutely the same piece of equipment?

Yeah i i think you can you can take some comfort in the fact that the west shore chiefs talk about this at length we're all faced with uh aging fleets um large amounts of equipment excessive amounts equipment um for instance i believe there's three or four marine units for the entire west shore where some of the larger municipalities have one so we're working right now to streamline uh that process and eliminate some of that equipment and that'll realize savings not only for us but for the other municipalities um whether it's an engine or a ladder service vehicles.

So we we are having those discussions, but that's a broader discussion that the the fire chiefs can discuss that all they want, but this would be this would be discussions at at your level and the CAO level to to sort of move those initiatives forward and they would have to be under formal agreement.

But yeah we we do have those conversations we're we're very cognizant of the fact that as we work together now we're seeing you know duplication and triplications in equipment and um that that is something we we pay attention to and we're looking to streamline.

Okay absolutely keep up that good work then we're trying I'll I'll trade you staff for equipment I'll get rid of three trucks for three staff how's that keep up that good work thank you.

Uh Paul, when you talked about um uh the um uh fire attendance and uh the numbers, what was that?

Um yes structure fires.

Um maybe it's an idea to have two separate lines now.

Okay.

One one set of in view and the other that you're servicing outside.

Absolutely.

We do have we we do the cover that roughly, but if you don't know what you're looking for, it it can be ambiguous.

There's one there's one called uh mutual aid and automatic aid response.

Yeah.

Um in in this particular one.

I'll break it down for you next time to show you where where we're actually going.

So you have a clear picture.

Okay.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Uh do you know if um Langford is looking to get another fire hall?

As far as I understand, no.

They they right now they have a three-station model.

They are currently and um they are currently working to staff their Happy Valley Hall.

So they'll run like a north and a south hall, and then they've got their third hall over by Maw Miller's over by Gold Stream Park.

There is no there is no movement to increase their their uh their station number.

Okay.

Or or let me put it another way, either another hall or more staff in each of the halls.

Langford has been very robust in their in their hiring plans.

Okay.

They're they're keenly aware of their rapidly expanding community, as is Callwood.

Um it it's a it's an interesting dilemma, and that um I think we're all going to be burdened with that in one form or another, or at one, you know, where where Langford might have to hire 10 or 20 people, uh VRL might have to hire two or three people.

I think it's it's it's all relative as we move forward.

And it doesn't necessarily mean based on the the size of the municipality or the demographics, the the calls for service, the requirements are still the same.

It's just they are growing at a at a rapid rate.

Okay, so they not like the RCMP, you'll have one one fire um individual um per capita.

You know, that what we hear from the RCMP, one for eight, eight hundred and seventy-five.

There are there are there are several positive initiatives that the West Shore could implement to share staffing in the fire service easily.

Okay.

Uh if I may, on to uh Detroit's uh good work.

Yeah.

Very interested that um uh I'm pleased that he's with such a uh variety of uh meetings that he does attend.

Um the nuclear emergency response, thanks to Mr.

Putin, I suppose.

Um is there a CRD um wide with um our CFB as well month uh personnel?

Is that kind of a collective arrangement?

No, see the the the military is responsible for that, for that response and that control and command of that of that issue.

Um it's my understanding that there are, I don't think it's any surprise that that nuclear powered vessels enter the harbor.

Okay.

That's what this is more focused on is what happens if they have an emergency on the base.

Okay.

And then I I'm pleased that they're they're involving the local municipalities at at our level.

That you know, if they we get the phone call saying we have this problem, at least we have a bit of an option to react and we have an understanding of what's going on on the base.

But they ultimately are in control of uh what happens on the base.

Okay, great.

Um so do we happen to have know how many um volunteers we have with the ESS team right now?

Um texted if I texted Troy, I would know in almost instantly it's probably anywhere from 20 to 30.

Okay.

Between ESS radio and emergency program we have we have a a pretty significant um volunteer base there.

Right.

There's an ESSC container.

Is that the one that's there on site at the uh the hall?

Yes.

Okay, right.

In the upper parking lot, that's the newly installed one right um and with respect to bylaw um i noticed that the vehicle is still there at the uh theatus overflow parking um the uh bottle of service had ticketed or tagged it if you like in back in february and um so so oh sorry the the covered vehicle the covered vehicle is still there yeah okay i'll ask i'll ask jim what the what the update i know that vehicle was it was licensed and then it was broken into uh it is a resident yeah on Nursery hill.

Yeah.

Let me find out from Jim and i'll i'll send an email to counsel and let you know what the the status of that vehicle is.

Yeah, no particulars, just kill.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Good, John.

Second.

Fantastic.

Happy to hear that uh bylaw officer Henley's been cycling around.

Thank you.

I was just wondering on a typical day now that he's uh riding a bike, is he interacting with uh the vulnerable population regularly?

Uh what does a typical day look like, of course, when he's not responding to uh concerns from the community?

So a typical day for bylaw is complaints are received.

Um usually, you know, they're received all day.

Uh any complaints that come in in the afternoon are processed first thing in the morning with clerk.

They're prioritized by Jim.

And then usually by mid-morning, he's out on the road dealing with it.

He has several files that he um consistently manages every day.

And whether that's you know, client contact or new files, he he has a routine, he has a circuit that he that he follows through on.

Jim, um, when Jim was with the city, he was part of, and I I don't I don't want to get the acronym wrong, but he was part of that team that interacted with vulnerable population with the with a nurse and a cop, and and they would make contact.

And I know Jim does make daily contact with some of our vulnerable population.

They know who he is and he knows who they are.

And he does.

I mean, Jim has gone so far as to, you know, help these people with food and and money and trying to get them lined up with um the contacts that he had with he was with the city police.

So in a typical day, he he will make contact with the people that he usually deals with.

Um the the bike is brand new for him, probably a couple weeks.

Um I'm thinking he he will have a circuit and he'll get known on his circuit when he's coming, like the ice cream man.

He'll, you know, it'll be we can expect that by law is doing patrols of certain hotspot areas.

Um, but I I think the the bike aspect is going to get him into places that he normally wouldn't see, whether it be the ENN trail or the Galloping Goose, which aren't our jurisdiction, but the reality is if we don't manage problems in those areas, they just migrate to to other areas.

And I think driving around at a slower pace, he's gonna see things in a clear a little more clear than driving around.

So he does he does have busy days.

The the bylaw files numbers seem to be increasing, um, which is which is interesting.

It's very cyclical.

We'll see how it balances out now that people are going back to work.

E-bike or bike bike?

Bike bike.

We talked about the e-bike.

I didn't think it would be appropriate.

I thought maybe he could go full bike.

As a fireman to a cop, I thought, no, you can ride the bike.

You don't want to give him the benefit of an e-bike.

No, no.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Mayor Screech.

Any questions?

Okay, you're good.

Okay, you've got can you you want to move on to parks and public places bylaw 96?

Nine.

Six, yes.

Thank you.

Uh this is a report that was compiled by our bylaw enforcement uh officer Henley.

It's amendment, it is an amendment to the current parks and public spaces by law number 986.

The recommendation is the report dated April 22nd, 2022 from bylaw officer enforcement titled Amendments to Parks and Public Spaces by Law 986 be received for information.

The purpose of the report is to establish bylaw amendments that limit the opportunities for homeless encampments in the town of Uroyal's public parks and public spaces.

The report is lengthy.

Uh just a quick summary is basically the current uh parks and public spaces bylaw does not provide the necessary tools to conduct effective bylaw enforcement in municipal parks.

This bylaw requires updating and streamlining to meet current physical and legislative changes.

The town's parks are spaces which residents enjoy, and to ensure this enjoyment staff require enforceable bylaws that can be utilized at the appropriate level with either warnings or fines.

These proposed amendments are not intended to alter the compliance-based approach that the bylaw enforcement currently does, but it will provide staff with the necessary tools in those circumstances where they have to enforce them.

Sorry, I I've just Madam Chair.

Yeah, thank you.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Um have we allowed camping in any parks to date, or is is this new because I'm I'm a bit alarmed that camping is being it is proposed to be you know allowed from seven to seven.

Currently camping is it is permitted uh everywhere.

You you're in you're you're able to camp anywhere.

That that is the law.

That that's uh that's been bantered through the courts and it's been it's been allowed.

So camping in parks is permitted in the town of Uroil as it is within the CRD.

However, this bylaw amendment is to control that particular behavior.

So we don't run into situations where people uh stay in a park for an extended period of time.

But make no mistake, people are permitted to camp in public spaces where there is no shelter available for them.

Mayor Screech.

That is permitted right now today.

Yes.

Okay.

Well, yeah, thank you.

I was going to point out what Paul said at the very end there, which I'm glad he said it.

You know, technically, there has to be no shelter beds available before people, homeless people are allowed to camp in our parks.

That was very clear in the court ruling that when there are no shelter beds available, um, so our partners in the core, you know, they've they've taken it a step further, and they don't seem to take that as a consideration in any of their work on whether or not shelter beds are in fact available.

Or so I at any rate, I'm not arguing that we need to do something about it, but I I don't like the notion that we just have to allow parking in our parks because or camping in our parks because technically there does have to be that lack of shelter space available to go side by side.

Okay.

Um, CAO Anima, you had your hand up.

Yeah, I just wanted to remind council that about a month ago, council did receive a report discussing the um the court cases that actually enable the homeless to have rights to camp.

And uh I am aware that the the ball law enforcement officer does check to make sure that there is accommodation or not uh for those homeless that have chosen to camp within V Royal.

Okay, thank you.

Just to follow up on that particular one, under this under the proposal.

Yes.

Is the proposal still to only allow, even if we earmark a spot where they could cap.

Is there still a prerequisite to check to see if there's any accommodation available?

Absolutely.

So the bylaw officer does that is the first that's the first point of contact.

Okay, so just be clear on this one.

Even if we approve a particular park, it's not like it's wide open for park for camping.

It it's only if it's if there's no other spaces available for them, that's the place they have to go.

They can't go to other ones.

That's correct.

There are restrictions and limitations on how they can how and where they can enter a park.

Some parks the they will not fit the criteria for some parks.

Some parks it may or may not but the first contact that the bylaw enforcement officer makes is with the person and the shelters downtown.

That is the priority.

Okay.

Well we have toilet facilities in one of the parks listed here.

Correct.

Should toilet facilities not be a prerequisite for camping.

I can't comment on that.

I can't I don't I don't have an answer for that one.

I could tell you I I I have a dog who is fascinated with what he finds in a park that doesn't have a toilet.

And it would be really, really great if that wasn't there.

And you get to take it home.

Yeah.

So on the same if if there is a park that we uh determine is the spot to go, then we could look at putting something in there.

Please.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Um counselor, you you're bursting i i think that this is this is certainly a really multi-layered conversation where we need to um make decisions with um extra thought and consideration for um actions that could cause um an increase in in um individuals potentially wanting um that area yes yes so i i just think we should we should just um be careful about um you know decisions like like washrooms and things like that yeah i'll hear you counselor rogers yeah i um i would not want this to come to the next council meeting for uh first and second reading there there's a lot to flush out here um and the uh the suggested uh parks for for the point of suggestion um um eagle creek and uh knock and hill um I'm concerned about those two parks being uh very sensitive ecosystems um and alongside a stream uh so you know that the the criteria kind of rules that out um the uh and it's also um the the distance from trails or 40 meters from such and such.

Um it's it's interesting, 40 meters from uh washrooms.

Um and you know one of the one of the criteria that we would have on on park uh any park use is one cannot defecate or urinate in a park or else you get a fine.

So if we're going to designate uh places, then we've got to provide um and we expect them to be in those parks, then we should be expected to uh provide the minimal standards so that um uh we're not going to see um those issues arise.

I mean this this also brings about um an interesting variety of questions and um I'd be curious to know where the other ones that you've, other municipalities that you've listed here, uh Victoria, Calwood, Sanite, Sydney, what number?

How many, how many um um homeless are they willing or could they accept in a given park?

Do they uh do they have any particular number, uh, 10 per park or anything like that?

Um, you know, how do they um uh go about the enforcement?

Um, I know, I and I guess one of the futile things is the ticketing.

Um again, I'd be very curious to see from the Victoria uh City of Victoria how successful they are in in actually collecting any fines from from a ticketing process, if they were able to get the right name.

Um, you know, is it uh is it going to be Bolo and what's what's the staffing resources uh requirements of that?

Do we have to have the police?

Um does the CRD have the same requirements to to allow the homeless in their parks?

Uh should we put um allocate the one if you can rec center uh as a park and as a facility uh in the forested area um i mean there they're and and i guess now that we've cleared out the individuals uh on the on the ministry of highways that land area i'm interested in putting them back on so you know i would caution you uh that without without the tools in this bylaw the cost of enforcement there there is no tools for removal at this point yeah if i know if if serious consideration isn't given to an amendment to manage this issue i can assure you it'll be a larger issue than uh we we have we have crossed this bridge before where we have no we have no tools and no mechanisms i know to interact with these people and that's my concern for the town yeah um I understand the complexities as as counselor Kowalowich has alluded to um without any tools our hands are tied and it will be a free for all and then I guess that's you know where where does it start becoming the the the free for all um uh with these individuals and I'm not I'm you know I I in some senses I say it frivolously on the other hand I'm more than happy to ask the province let's let's talk about their land they just cleared and um maybe that is indeed the best place because it's not near anybody else.

Unless unless you live in Evelyn or or Francis View estates sort of been perfectly.

Completely mute point with respect.

Our bylaw has no effect there.

But I I am curious on how we chose the parks we did.

You know, how how did we come up with those four?

Yeah, it's my my understanding from from the bylaws, of course.

They it it spoke to sensitive ecosystems, it spoke to uh playgrounds, it spoke to trails, uh roads.

There was a uh a criteria, and I believe it was based on what the other municipalities had done with respect to their uh their bylaw amendments as well.

Yeah I I mean I I mean I can't talk about Knocking Hill Park without but it's actually not that close to our house but I can imagine the people on high street looking at that and thinking why on earth is council designating a small park at the end of our street away from transit away from any services um so I'm having a hard time wrapping my my head around the logic of that.

The Portage linear park, um, I tend to think that's great, but can we put them in the sanage end?

And and Eagle Creek, I I don't know.

I mean, the only one there that really makes sense to me is the Viewer Park near the TCH.

And how many do we really have to?

Are we under an obligation to list more than one?

I know.

Start with one.

Oh with Kim?

Oh, okay.

Great.

Well, I see you're on.

I just wondered if you were second.

Thank you.

So, in terms of a spot that's actually convenient for campers and people and services, we've got this, uh, two acres or three acres of park that we've just put on uh that we were just given uh whatever it is that Burnside Watkus.

Burnside Watkus.

I mean that's a big empty space.

I mean, if we had to allocate a spot, it's it's sort of out of view royal.

Um and if somebody wants to camp there, they can still wander down to the uh the shopping center and and pick up food or what or whatever.

I mean that would make more sense to me than like you say at the end of high street or something.

Are you referring to the property that is a we we discussed being a dog park or a playground?

Next to the handy dart.

I think so.

What you're referring to?

No, right that's right close to I was gonna say Lunro, it's not Lun.

We it's near Eagle Creek.

Do you mean the five acres we purchased Ron by Eagle Creek?

That Eagle Creek property, but you know, that one that's the farmland.

Oh the farmland.

Well behind quality.

Oh, behind qual behind quality foods.

I mean, no one's it's it's in the middle of, you know, in terms of view royal, middle of nowhere.

Yeah, that's to be all.

Yeah, this the um you know, I I appreciate the staff report, you know, coming to us, but um it is going to be a thorny issue, and um we will still need to, you know, um provide some kind of facilities.

I don't think we can do it without a uh a washroom or yeah, at least the other part of this is it's not like we're gonna be putting signs up camp here.

It's it's you can this is exactly designed that if somebody does set up a camp in an area that that isn't permitted, then we have the tools to enforce the removal of those people.

This is this has a time limit on it.

This is a 7 p.m.

to 7 a.m.

And every 7 a.m.

every morning, you know, okay, people would be moved along.

This isn't a permanent um uh permanent setup.

Right now we have no ability to move anybody from any park in V Royal.

Understood.

Lindsay, you had your hand up.

Director Chase.

Thank thank you, Councillor Lemon.

Um, with respect to the land off of Little Road, that land is in the agricultural land reserve, and the town has not yet acquired a non a non uh farm use permit for that land, um, which I I would so I would be very cautious about um any park type uses associated with that, where we we don't actually have permission to do anything yet.

Okay.

Chief, I I appreciate this report, and I I know that the discussions were per chat perhaps got beyond what you're trying to do here.

You're trying to you're trying to make to yes.

Thanks, Councillor Lemon.

I just I I would like an answer to my question from either Kim or Chief Hearst if he knows it.

Do we have an obligation?

How many parks do we have to define?

One, I thought.

I'm gonna defer to Mr.

Anima.

Yeah.

There is no specific requirement.

The the opportunity for homeless to camp in our parks is established by court decisions only.

And the choices that have been made by local government is to apply a broad spectrum of solutions.

Some communities have named numerous parks that are permitted.

Some have not identified any parks and have only created requirements that are physical, things like 40 meters from a washroom, those kind of requirements.

And so we can name one or we can name all of them except one, depending on are we giving permission or are we limiting where they can go?

Um the point is we do need the tools, and it it is our objective to put this on a regular agenda soon for readings.

And so we do need the feedback that you're providing today so that we can amend the bala to suit what you want to do.

Thank you.

I think we all fully understand the court ruling and the implications.

Um so I'm not sure that you need to continuously bang us over the head with this.

Um it is it's a significant step for our community, and our residents are going to have a lot to say about it.

Um, you know, especially given how badly Victoria has managed this and the disaster it's been, and to see that drive by what used to be a beautiful park, Stadacona Park, um, and have a look at all the tents in there, and they never come down.

Um, so our residents are going to be incredibly apprehensive, um, and I think with lots of good cause.

Um so we need to approach it carefully, and we need to think it through and make sure we're doing it right for our community.

And I just I'm I'm not sure why Knock and Hill Park is on there.

I'm not, you know, Eagle Creek Park, I think is I don't know.

I I don't understand how they've been chosen as opposed to say Glen Early Park.

Um, you know, I I I don't know what parameters have been used, or the park by um Counselor Rogers' house.

You know, so that's my question is do we have to do more than what?

Can we take a chunk of View Royal Park and say if you're gonna camp in View Royal, this is your designated area.

There's an outhouse not too far away.

Um you can put a tent up there from 7 p.m.

to 7 a.m.

That's I guess the crux of my question.

Yeah.

If there's no spots uptown that can go to a shelter.

Um how would would bylaw be on the job at seven in the morning?

They could be if they were made aware of uh of an incident.

It's uh they're not a 24-hour service, so complaints coming in at the end.

So that's that's that's the challenge too, isn't it?

We don't have 24 hour no camping usually becomes a hot spot where somebody sets up camp for a period of time.

It's not just an one-night affair.

How about weekends?

You know, yeah, we could somebody could move in on a Saturday and um you know it gets reported, and you know, I'm in contact with the bio officer and say, you know, we have an issue, and he comes in early on Monday or he deals with it at 8:30 on Monday, and the problem's resolved by you know that morning.

Um sometimes it's not an instant fix.

It it's not that simple.

Yeah, it is a complex issue.

Okay.

Uh yeah, go ahead excuse me, Joe.

Kim.

Sorry.

And so in response to the mayor's question, you know, one part may well suffice.

I am concerned the extent to which the general public perceives that we're providing permission.

That's why I've been reiterating the court case.

I don't mean to browbeat you or otherwise cause you concern in terms of my repeated comment about this being a situation where we're limiting what the courts have decided.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

And and what what I hear you saying is we have we have a potential massive problem now that people are generally just not aware of.

So we need tools to control it.

However, what in doing this, what we're doing is putting it out in the public.

And so the fix perhaps is creating a bigger problem in terms of public concern than the existing.

Perhaps a perception versus reality scenario.

So question with with respect to the province and and along the ENN tracks, um they obviously don't have are there anybody is anybody allowed to camp there?

You know what how does the how does the province um have the authority to move them out?

That's their property, it's private property.

Yeah, but that but you know, but doesn't the Supreme Court say anyone can camp anywhere?

I can't answer that question.

I know MOT is is very more than willing to move off their property.

Um I guess my concern is that now that um this is coming out and and we're having this discussion, maybe we should let uh sleeping homeless lie.

Um aside from the fact that uh you know there was the fire uh uh in that area.

But you know, that's it's a it's the same thing with the casino in the 1720.

They burnt down a tree and you know it was in the rain, but they they had a fire in the stump and the tree fell over.

So yeah, um I think in in sensitive ecosystem areas that um um I that would that's more problems than it's worth and um I think if we designate rural part, it did okay.

Counselor Kowalovich is the place.

I just wanted to address Councillor Rogers' uh recommendation or uh desire to have that area returned back to Modi.

My understanding is um from my experience is that the the fallback for Modi is that it's uh it's a safety issue with allowing uh camping next to main highways.

That's that seems to be their um their fallback just from from experience.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay, so what are we doing?

Oh council mounts.

In terms of what we're doing, I don't think we can just sort of not do anything.

I think we should pick a park whether or whether staff come back with a recommendation of one spot and a location within that spot.

But I don't think we have an option.

I think we have to.

Staff has made a good case on why we need this bylaw and we need to pick a spot.

And if we do that and we have the bylaw, I mean it's not like we're gonna be telling everybody, the homeless or the camp people up there, that it's perfectly fine to park there.

It's just that when someone does park there or camp, and if they're in a spot that we don't want them, we can say, sorry, you can't camp there.

We have a bylaw, you have to go camp here.

And it'll prevent us a whole lot of aggravation from what I hear is when someone decides to camp down in Portage Park and they just decide not to leave, and we have no way of getting rid of them.

Council Mr.

Screech, do you have a comment on this?

Well, I mean, I I agree with what Councillor Matchin just said.

Obviously, we have to do something.

I just I don't I mean whether we do one or two, possibly, I just would like us to do what we need to do to be reasonable and fair, and to give staff tools we need.

And and regardless of the fact that we can look at this as giving staff tools, but let's face it, at the moment, it is technically not allowed for anyone to set up tent in a V-World Park.

And, you know, it I'm I'm not saying that we can leave it like that.

I know we can't, but we don't have major problems.

As you know, I know we have some problems, but we don't have people like you see in Santa Cona Park or Beacon Hill or any number of City of Victoria or even Stanage Parks for that matter.

Um, we've been very fortunate to avoid the major problems.

So I do have worries that if we all of a sudden say, you know, here it is, here's your bathroom, um, you can set up at 7 p.m.

You need to be that all of a sudden we're gonna see more.

And I I think it's possible.

So we but then the big thing is we need to define the parks.

Um, I think.

But other than that, we obviously have to move it forward.

But do we say Portage Park away from the playground and View Raw Park to be reasonable?

What what do we do?

Um I just wanted to reinforce that nobody's gonna know about this unless they go read our bylaw.

Uh Ron, the me the media is gonna pick up on this for 100%.

And the homeless agencies are gonna pick up on it, and they hand out leaflets to homeless people who are looking for places to pitch tents.

Um, it it'll get out there.

People are gonna know about it.

Yeah.

Make it legal and inconvenient.

My last my last point is that when it comes back um uh to the council meeting um there's a paragraph that shows the table of denoded restrictions addressed by the Native municipalities um I can I have a better understanding of what those um uh columns mean you know if if Victoria has a a sighting limit how much is the sighting limit uh I don't know what it means by facilities and I'd certainly be interested to know that parks in each of those municipalities which parks they have they identified.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, so what are we gonna do here that's that's gonna take that's gonna take a considerable amount of time and staff time to get that information.

And I don't think we'll be in a position to bring this back.

This is going to delay it significantly.

Just being honest, John.

It's just that's that's many bylaws with a lot of staff time to review.

That's right.

Um, I mean, even if you give reference to you know their material, you know, where I can supply you with all their bylaws to review if you'd like.

I mean, I I I'm I'm just being candid.

It's it's that's fair.

Yeah.

This is specific to View Royal, and and the examples cited in the chart were more as a reference to show that other municipalities have enacted almost identical bylaws that are proposed.

Yeah, it's it's it's very easy to find which parks are allowed in Victoria and Santa just by going on their website.

Is it?

Yeah, is that yeah?

So I think any one of us who feels the need to do that could do that independently.

So do we have a motion?

Yeah, move or state.

Second.

Second.

In favor.

Okay.

But Councillor Lemmon, does staff feel they have enough direction to forward and come back to us now?

Staff, do you feel like that?

What I've heard, and please correct me if I'm wrong.

What I've heard is you want a more defined uh or a a different list of parks.

Is that correct?

Or perhaps a shorter list of parks.

A shorter list of parks.

And is there any direction on which parks uh you would like to see on a shorter?

Okay.

Not Eagle Creek not eagle creek not knocking hill okay there she just got cut by 50 percent i still like little park it's in the middle of nowhere but if you're gonna pick a bus the other question too is if could you just allocate or sort of specify a specific location say in view royal park that's away from everybody okay yeah no i can do that well that's in the creek really isn't it well i i uh yeah okay and and um chief you're still up.

I am i i just i just fire's quiet, I thought i'd take on the bylaw department.

So how's your afternoon?

Oh it's wonderful.

When I'm done here, I'm gonna go camp at Portage.

Okay, next report.

Amendments to municipal ticket information bylaw 643.

This is a housekeeping issue that's just updating our MTI and um fine bylaws.

We have some bylaws that identify uh infractions or don't identify infractions, and our MTI bylaw doesn't jive with uh some of our current bylaws.

So we're we're updating this is simply to update the MTI bylaw so it's consistent with some of our our current bylaws.

Why are my edits in canji?

In what?

Kanji.

Or Mandarin.

I would suggest that you put in a ticket to ESW.

My edits.

Yeah.

They're all true.

I can't answer that question.

Yeah, it's it's raised rings.

You know, we can't, I can't hardly read the numbers because uh we've got this uh added to reflect CU and in the Mandarin or Asian dialect.

Okay.

I I've got it in, yeah.

I I'm not sure why it's they are.

It's interesting.

Any suggestions from our it's kind of incomprehensible, the people who create the can understand this.

Anyway, um do we have a motion to reset?

Oh, this it's just a question.

Um, there's uh some that have been cancelled out, crossed out.

Is it because they're in some other um bylaw?

They appear in other bylaws, yes.

Okay.

So those are the red ones that have been canceled, like the golf ball in any manner.

Yeah, okay.

Something like one read.

They've been updated or the the fines have been changed.

Okay.

I see the it's more expensive.

The fines are greater if you put up a campaign sign.

I I thought it said specifically a John Rogers campaign sign.

It did, yeah.

It was a significant fine for your campaign.

This is for you poll.

Move receipt.

On the subtaver.

Motion carried.

And I'll make sure that you get a still on to you?

Thank you.

No.

I think I'm done.

No, you're not.

Acting mayor.

No, you have building department report.

Nope.

You don't?

I'm gonna turn that over to my learned colleague, uh Director.

Well, what we've got we've got to get it out of my lane.

Oh, of course you do.

Thanks, Paul.

Thank you, Chief.

Thank you very much.

Only three issues for you today.

I appreciate the uh the commentary.

Thank you.

Thanks, Paul.

Thank you, Mayor.

Do we have Director Chase?

I'll move I'll move receipt.

Second.

Second.

Carried.

Thank you very much.

And um then we have moving right on down here.

I'm sorry, people, I've just lost my uh finance.

Well, every time this thing falls over, I lose where I am.

Um nothing from you, Mayor Screach from Finance and Administration.

Oh yes, there is indeed.

Yeah, you you can just carry on, Councillor Lemon, if you like.

Because I'll only the two reports.

All right.

And uh do we have is um director Christensen or Steve Vella on online?

There you are.

Hello.

Good afternoon.

Uh nothing to add to the report unless there are any questions.

No, no.

I'll move for seat.

Second, we have a question.

Yeah.

Yes, uh, thank you, report.

As usual, it it looks like we're doing really well.

I just wanted to ask you if uh there's anything we need to worry about.

Anything we should be keeping our eye on.

Uh thank you for the question.

It is rather early in the year yet, given that the budget just got approved.

Um, I expect that you will see the numbers move a little bit more in the next month's report.

Um, nothing really to be concerned about at this point in time.

Thank you.

And I was just wondering if we've had a casino report lately and how we're doing our how our projections on those revenues we do, we will include those numbers in the next month's report.

Uh we have uh received the first quarter um gaming revenue, and it is in line with the budget, the total budget for this year is uh 1.5 million in gaming revenue, and I think we're close to that, uh you know, proportionately for the first quarter.

Okay, thank you.

Okay.

All right.

I think we're actually pretty well over it.

Are we not, Don?

I just signed those checks yesterday, and and our share for the first quarter was half a million.

It was close to that.

But yeah.

I'm just being a little bit more positive and optimistic than Don.

That's all.

Hopefully.

Are you still putting back words in one of those holes though?

Okay, so motion to receive.

So move.

Second.

In favor, motion carried.

Thank you very much, Don.

You're on.

Um CAO Anima.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

So, yes, we have the uh the CAO report regarding um events of the last month.

Um, under administration, we have the alternate approval process for two parkland disposition bylaws, including the required newspaper notices.

Municipal municipalities are required to seek electoral assent through either an alternative approval process or by referendum for surfing and bylaws.

In this initiative, two pieces of undeveloped parkland are proposed to be disposed of to the Capitol Regional District for incorporation into their Mill Hill Regional Park.

Next item: you are reminded that the volunteer appreciation dinner is going to be held late this month.

I think the date is May the 28th.

I'm sure you're well aware that there's a lot of construction happening at the Craigflower Manor site, so it's not available for Canada Day.

So we are making alternative arrangements for Canada Day.

The town will follow last year's theme of providing Canada Day item giveaways.

The giveaways this year on Canada Day will include candidate flag buttons, pins, small paper flags, waterless tattoos, and a 20-inch cotton canvas tote bag with the View Royal logo.

View Royal residents can pick up the candidate items while doing business at town hall or after hours outside town hall by the main doors on June 21st and the 23rd.

The finance department is pleased MNP conducted the 2021 year-end financial audit in April virtually.

The unmodified clean audit opinion of the 2021 consolidated statements was provided.

Property tax notice time is at hand the homeowner grant and the property tax deferment programs will continue to be administered by the province.

We used to administer them here.

Residents will now apply directly to the province under both of these programs.

Staff are undertaking active messaging via the property tax notice and the insert of the tax notice.

The town website and social media, and will also be participating with other municipalities in a large newspaper advertisement.

So last month's council members got to view the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet.

Tablet will be provided to council after the election to replace the iPads that are currently in use.

The tablet will be the only device required to fully participate as a View council member, a View royal council member.

All town business can be performed on this single device.

Development Services is looking forward to the arrival of two new staff members later this month, bringing the department back to a full complement.

Staff have initiated the development of zoning for the remaining land use contract areas in View Royal.

A letter was sent to the property owners, and we are getting some response.

We are fielding a few phone calls from those that own property within that region.

The community development advisory committee held a special meeting to review and make recommendations on the draft climate action strategy.

After a final review, this strategy will be coming forward to council for an endorsement.

In the engineering department, three students were hired for summer jobs with the town, one engineering intern and two parts laborers.

The town has been successful in two grant applications, securing funding from the government of Canada towards hiring these students for the summer.

We are currently at the initial stages of the development of the active transportation network plan.

The first phase of the project involves gathering and collating data for the consultant to produce a baseline conditions report.

Once that's complete, the engineering department will bring forward the initial stakeholder and public engagement strategy to council prior to its launch.

The site preparation work at Watkins Way Community Park site is well underway.

The BC Transit contractor is undertaking the work on the town's behalf to level off the grade of land, making it more usable for future public use.

Preparation for the busy spring and summer season has begun.

Terrass maintenance and parks and green spaces, as well as the increased refuse collection within parks, are the current focus for park staff.

Water for irrigation and water fountains has been turned on for the season.

The View Royal Fastball Association has again assisted with the preparation of the infields of Helmcken Centennial Park.

Their contribution is a great help to parks in getting the diamonds in shape for the 2022 ball season, especially with the wet spring weather that we've had.

The town has also been successful in acquiring a grant from VC Hydroge Rebreeding Program.

The grant will fund the purchase of plants for pollinator beds at Welland Legacy Park and the Community Orchard.

Archives.

The Access to Memory Online repository is now live.

Archives volunteers have been kept apprised to this project through the months and were notified by email of its launch in the first week of April.

The public has access both through a direct site and now also through the town's website.

Material continues to be added regularly from the town's collections, with the most recent addition being May 5th of 2022.

So after this update, there will be a presentation by the records coordinator archivist of the access to memory online.

Okay, would you like to um to take questions now or after the presentation?

Let's take questions now.

Okay.

All right.

Questions.

Any thank you.

So for Canada Day, there will be gift bags available for residents, so to speak.

At the front.

Yeah, okay.

And are there any formal or informal events planned on Canada Day at all that we know of?

Nothing on the uh okay.

Okay.

Alrighty.

Good.

Anyone else?

Councillor Rogers.

Uh on the uh development services second paragraph.

Um, I think the you're referring to when staff initiated development zoning, that was the Glantana area.

That's correct.

Yeah, okay, great.

Thanks.

And um uh congratulations.

Um, really pleased to see the um um BC Hydro's re-greening grant uh for well and part.

Well done.

Thank you.

Counselor Matson, you good?

I'm good.

Mayor Screech.

Anything?

No, I'm good.

Thank you.

I I have just a a question about the um oh the advertising with all the other municipalities.

What what is this?

You're all going to have an insert in presumably the Times colonist featuring the various tax rates.

Our finance director will respond to that question.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh uh Council Lemon.

And I can't quite I can't quote chapter and verse, but I believe it's just a rather large, hard to miss ad that reminds people that their property taxes are due, and to encourage them that if eligible, they should claim their homeowner grant with the province and and watch for uh different and a little bit about the deferment program as well.

Uh it it's kind of a coordinate coordinated effort to kind of use uh our money wisely to get the message out there that people um we don't like it when people miss paying their property taxes.

We don't enjoy imposing a penalty.

So we really want to encourage people to contact their municipality.

And I believe all of the municipalities participating in the ad are mentioned in the ad and and the email address and how to contact and phone numbers for how to get a hold of their municipality if they have questions about the property taxes.

That's great.

That makes all kinds of sense.

Thank you, John.

Okay.

Um do you do you want to introduce?

I will have Sarah.

I will happily do that.

And we'll also uh touch back to a question you had.

The bags uh for Canada Day are those cloth bags that you were provided with earlier for the cloth cloth checkout bag regulation bag so oh I just I did have one further question that was regarding the the bag bylaw have we had any feedback reaction interest we have had some and it's primarily in relation to the uh compostable bags.

I have provided an answer to the one person who asked the question, and that is compostable bags are still considered um plastic bags um unless they are uh and are not fully, they don't fully break down unless they are put into the proper compost stream.

So when a bag leaves a grocery store that may provide those, there's no telling how they'll be used afterwards.

And so they are still treated as a plastic bag in our bylaw, as they are in all the other bylaws in the region and in many places in BC.

So yes.

Thank you.

You are welcome.

And with us now, I'm happy to say, is uh Mel Denise, our records coordinator and archivist.

And I have to say, this initiative you will have heard about from time to time over the years, and council has supported the project.

It is like an iceberg, this project and this work, where there is much work that happens before you actually see anything.

And when Mel shows you what has gone into it, you will perhaps better be able to understand it.

And maybe you've already gone to the website to check it out and and will have seen for yourself the iceberg that it is.

But it is uh a thing of beauty, and um Mel can explain it in more detail uh in in a few minutes though, and uh she's put together a great presentation to show you um the work that she she has worked on now for several well over a year.

Um, but as have prior people in this position as well as some of our summer help and volunteers that have come in.

So it is the culmination of many people being involved, and the work will continue.

And so it's a very exciting project, and I will turn it over to you, Mel.