Council Meeting

Thanks, Sarah.

Good evening, View Royal.

I'll call the Council meeting for the town of View Royal to order for Tuesday, June 17th, 2025, and start with a territorial acknowledgement that we recognize the Lakongan speaking people known today as the Squamalt or Kaposum Nation and Songheese Nation, and that their historic connections to these lands continues to this day.

This evening we'll hear from the public during public participation and question period portions of the agenda.

If you wish to address council regarding the application for 21 Toby Crescent, it'll be an opportunity that's separate from that for public to comment uh as uh the council considers the application.

Um to provide comments virtually during the public participation period or to ask a question during the question period.

You'll see a QR code or a URL on the live webcast stream screen uh or a URL on the town's website under live webcast.

You can scan the uh QR code or type in the URL.

Uh, and through the form that pops up, you can type in your comment or question to be read aloud at the appropriate time by a member of our webcast team.

You'll need to provide just your name and your street name uh on the form if you're uh or if you're speaking in council chambers.

Public participation comments uh are greatly encouraged, but they're limited to five minutes for each speaker and must be related to an item on the agenda.

A question, however, at the end of the uh agenda is limited to two minutes and can be on uh any topic.

You'll be timed.

This meeting will be recorded by participating in the webcast.

You're consenting to being recorded, and the recording will be available on the town's website for future access uh can I have an approval of the agenda just noting councillor matts did you want to uh raise anything because you had spoken to me before you're leaving soon and you're still giving me a hard time uh yeah just uh I wanted to get an update on traffic economy on Palisere and see if uh anyways see what happens from there thanks business arising yeah we could uh put that under business arising so staff you could just um make a note of that for uh be honest um and aside from that was there any other changes to the agenda go ahead counselor uh sorry where will that be under under uh it could it's not under new business because we've asked it for it before but it uh could yeah it could be under seven for business arising okay thank you any other comments questions can I get a mover and a seconder for the move by counselor rogers seconded by counselor brown all those in favor any opposed?

Seeing none opposed.

Motion carries unanimously uh and can I get a mover and a seconder for to adopt the minutes if there's no changes or amendments for the uh council for meeting on the 3rd of June, please.

Second.

Uh moved by Councillor Brown, second by Councillor Lemon.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed.

Motion uh carries.

And I think that brings us down to uh the mayor's report.

Uh I would just like to thank Sarah.

This will be her last council meeting after 21 years of service to uh the town of U Royal, and that she uh is is moving literally up in the world and has the job of the CAO uh for the Highlands, which she'll be starting your last day, I think is the second.

When are you starting, Sarah the New England?

July 3rd so it's just right in there.

Okay.

Well uh on behalf of council thank you very much Sarah for your service.

Okay.

It it has been uh a very uh busy uh week I thought it would slow down for the summer but it's not um uh there are ongoing meetings for school district 61 to consider award system, and I don't want to get into the challenges that the uh school board faced in the last year, but it's uh it's something we're striving to work for uh in the coming uh weeks and hopefully have an answer to the minister by September for approval and consideration.

Um just wanted to uh point out that we're also in the midst of doing our finalization for planning for the new RCMP building.

New RCMP buildings are very expensive endeavors uh because they're post-disaster, uh meaning that they should be the building that's standing after an earthquake.

Uh and of course, being an RCMP building, it also has to meet pretty much military Comsec uh standards.

Uh so it it is a cost that's shared by uh View Royal, Callwood, and uh and Langford.

Um I have drafted a letter I'm hoping to work with the other mayors to petition the province and the federal government to kick in a lion's share because if they're going to reward rapidly growing communities, I think this will be an appropriate opportunity to step in and help municipalities out instead of offloading the cost entirely on taxpayers.

So having said that there's no petitions and delegations but that brings us to public participation period.

I'll just remind folks again if you're here about uh 21 Toby Crescent, there'll be an opportunity there to talk to about uh but anything on the agenda.

If anybody in the room would like to address counsel on any topic on the agenda, um you can approach the podium.

Going once, twice, three times.

Seeing none.

Carl, do we have anybody on the line who's submitted a form, sir?

Umbias, we have no messages so far.

Thank you.

Okay, so I think that brings us down to 8.1.

Uh over to staff for Toby Crescent.

Oh, sorry, business arriving from previous minutes, and that's uh Councilor Mattson.

Go ahead, please.

Sure, thank you.

Uh a few weeks ago at council, uh, we made a motion for staff to investigate traffic calming on Palisere.

That was the motion, but I think the general feeling from council is we wanted to see something happen.

And so I guess what I'm hoping staff can do is just give me an update on where we are and what sort of priority this is taken.

Yeah, Mayor Tobias.

Uh thank you.

Um we have a lot of traffic calming requests.

So essentially, when we get a traffic calling request, and if it's valid, we put it at the uh bottom of the pile and then we work our way through.

So I don't know where it is right now.

Uh I don't know where the traffic, the our initial pre-screening device is at this time.

What I do know is that the for specifically for Palliser or Paliser, probably sometime in mid summer is when we're going to start seeing some pre-screening devices on Paliser.

Uh, given some of the concerns from the neighbors who are adjacent to the daycare and their concerns about the health and the life and limb of the children who live there.

I I'd like to see something more immediate.

So if if nothing else, I'd like to move that we uh put signage up as a quick fix to slow people down and for staff to sort of move us up in the investigation in terms of a solution.

Do we have a second or second counselor uh Brown and uh uh you had a question or comment uh counselor McKenzie I just have a question whether this might be a conflict of interest uh since um the person pushing this might live close to that street so um I don't know if counselors should be using their position to push things that are really impacting their uh day-to-day lives well i'm quite happy to comment the pushing i'm doing is because there's five little children who live under five years old who live adjacent to the daycare whose lives are put at risk and so that's why I'm pushing it as well that and the fact that I was almost run over by a mother speeding through to to get to the daycare so my pushing of this is for the health of the residents and especially the little children who live adjacent.

Thank you, Councilor Matson.

If there's questions, let's go to questions first.

Councilor Rogers, anybody got a question before something?

I I you know staff have mentioned uh they always have a long list of um traffic calming.

And and um uh a few weeks before this one, um we had the neighborhood of uh Erskine Lane.

A few folks from Erskine Lane um cite um concerns about a lack of sidewalk around uh the new um light.

So I wonder uh question to staff, uh would this uh request um um displace other important um you know in the minds of residents other important traffic calming aspects and um will staff prioritize when uh when and you know as much as they can and and get around to it when they can uh yes, uh Mayor Tobias, there's um our policy basis dictates that first and first uh first and last out stack um the concerns that uh the email uh provided is not uncommon it's actually a very common statement so um every every traffic calm request we get has a very very similar tone to it um so if I see is to be prioritized then something that has been at the top of the list will have to move down thank you, Ivan.

Uh Councillor Brown.

Yeah, I think the uh signage would be a really smart idea.

It's very inexpensive.

You know, children that play slow down.

I mean most most responsible people see those signs.

You know, I've seen them all around town.

And certainly I slow down, I'm sure most people do, most response.

And I think it's a good idea to do it, do it now.

So that may be all that's needed.

Um school's almost out, so kids will be playing on their streets and that.

So I think that's a good idea.

Good start anyway.

Uh thank you.

And just uh for an added comment, uh today I've requested the RCMP to provide a bit of uh special attention to around the day care.

So every time I say this at a meeting, usually somebody says, Well, the person that complained now got a speeding ticket because he was going back to his house and exceeding the speed.

So be warned that if you live in the inner harbor, uh they'll probably see unusually uh a police cruiser there.

Um uh Ivan.

Uh yeah, uh thank you, Mary Tobias.

Just with respect to signage like children at play.

Um just I just did a Google search and BCAA does have complimentary slowdown kids playing lawn signs.

So the um resident can easily secure those and then place them on their lawns.

Go ahead, Councillor.

Yes, certainly um we've had um you know, um residents will put up uh caution children playing signs um up and down, they can acquire them very easily.

I think um um our um provincial MLA had a bunch at her office.

So um, yeah, if if the neighbors want to get uh 30 or 40 and plaster the street with um, well, these aren't election signs, um, we could uh certainly be drawing attention to um uh the need to calm that um very effectively by the residents themselves.

And well, as we wait for staff to um uh bring around a chicane, I hope.

Council McKenzie.

Yeah, I don't think the issue is or the question is whether there's safety concerns.

Unfortunately, these safety concerns are across the whole town.

I know in my area as well.

Um it's my um concern with this is just the prioritization of of where we go first.

And I don't think uh one's area safety concern should precede another's areas, especially if they've been on the list a longer time.

Thank you, Councillor McKenzie.

Any other comments?

So the we got a mover and a seconder to prioritize this uh specific area area on Palisere Drive.

Um uh it's been moved and seconded.

All those sort of a two-part one of them is to just put up the town put up a couple signs on the street reminding people to slow down because uh children playing or whatever they think is appropriate.

Um and the other would be because of the children there to prioritize.

So I mean quite happy to have it as two motions.

Or the first motion put up the signage.

Okay, and uh Councillor Brown, did you want to add anything to this?

Slow play.

So I see children in play.

Okay, so you you I think what's on the floor right now is a motion uh for prioritization, but you just added a motion, which you'd need another second or so.

I suggest you deal with one at a time, Councilor Matson.

Okay.

Uh so all those in favor are prioritizing Palace here Avenue for um for um staff to indicate investigate uh speed controls there.

All those in favor.

All those opposed, and I'm going to oppose this one just because we have a policy that states that it goes in the pile, but I think there's other mitigating things that we can do.

So that motion did not pass.

Um, but thank you, Counselor Matson Forrest.

And that was uh items well.

The second motion would be to put up the signage.

I I think because it didn't have any the same priority, then we'd have to that the that wouldn't take precedent, Councilor Matson.

Well, well then I'm happy if we vote it down, but I just wanted to put up a motion we can sign it.

So you would like signage put up.

Um do you have a seconder?

Seconded by Councillor Brown.

Do you want to motivate sure um the mums rushing to drop their children off at the daycare uh frequently speed and having this the signage would remind them that they're supposed to slow down because Al hath no fury like somebody late going to work I guess to drop their kids off uh and again I was close to being hit and then the individual who nearly hit me did not see anything wrong with the way she was driving.

Uh, and thought my request for her to slow down was uh inappropriate or outrageous.

I was an angry white man for requesting it.

Uh Counselor Brown.

Yeah, it's pretty inexpensive and to try it.

So I don't I think it's a kind of a no-brainer just to put some signs up, uh park signs, school uh crossing signs, uh all those things, uh crosswalk guards, all those things are reminders to people to slow down when there's children around.

So I mean, to me, I don't see one on every street, but that's just me.

I mean, I was an ex-traffic cop, right?

So obviously I'm a little biased, but uh yeah, I'm gonna just make sense.

Thanks, Counselor Brown.

Uh Counselor Rogers and then Counselor McKenzie.

Again, uh I I think it'd be much more effective if uh the parents themselves who are concerned about this issue um uh could uh uh they could easily acquire um uh children that play science.

Uh it's a it's a quick hit.

It shows initiative of uh of the uh the neighborhood um and about their concerns and um uh again it'll keep uh staff focused on the priorities that they have.

It will amount to the same thing.

Counselor McKenzie, then Councillor Lemon, then I'll go back to you, Councilor Matson.

Thank you.

Uh similar sentiments, you know, we have a lot of many daycares, we have two elementary schools.

This is an issue across the town.

And uh it again comes to prioritization of installing those signs and looking at the speeding.

And I agree with Councillor Rogers that you know, getting those families with children is actually we found our strata purchased our own uh children at play signs to put in those areas where the children are so it's more effective that way counselor uh lemon.

Um excuse me, I've got to support this motion.

I think that um a sign placed by the town will simply carry more weight than a series of signs that were picked up, you know, through BCAA.

Thank you, Councillor Lemon.

Counselor Matson.

Council quotes.

Thanks.

Question for stuff Have we actually done any investigation into this area?

Is there any evidence to support a sign going up?

Um no, Mayor Tobias, we haven't done our screening just yet.

Um crash data doesn't suggest an immediate, but that said, um, like I said before, we always get the similar comments from the streets requ requesting traffic coming.

There hasn't been any evidence.

Counselor Matson.

Yeah, just I agree with Counselor Lemon.

Uh those little signs mean nothing to people when they go through them because they know they're put up by parents or or people or just thrown up.

And so they basically ignore them.

But when you see a town sign, it has a little more oomph to it.

And someone who lives on the streets and sees the people driving, I mean i can test to what's happened and again i was close to being hit and it's just a matter of time before something bad happens on that street so that's why i'm supporting well i have to support this motion thank you councilor matsen if there's no other uh comments then we can move to a vote uh all those in favor of the signage for Palisere Avenue all those in favor.

All those opposed.

Three opposed uh so the motion does carry um and I guess that would be just uh direction to uh staff for uh for advocating for signage for Policy Avenue to slow traffic down.

Uh I think that brings us down to reports and staff for uh development variance permit for uh 21 Toby Crescent.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

So the purpose of this report is for council to consider development variance permit number 202501.

The permit is to reduce the minimum lot size requirement of a level three home occupation from a thousand meters squared to 995 meters squared to permit a bend breakfast on the subject property.

Next slide.

So at this stage, staff have reviewed the application.

Public has been notified of the DVP and council's intent to consider the variants during today's meeting.

Next slide.

So, as previously presented, um a business license application was received for a bed and breakfast home occupation in March of this year.

Section 4.2 of the zoning by law outlines the home occupation requirements, and section 4.3 outlines additional requirements for applicants looking to have a bed and breakfast.

The applicant is required to meet both of those in order to have a successful application.

As a note, three letters emails of support have been received by the town for this application.

And staff are willing to support the variants to reduce the lot size requirement from a thousand meters squared to 995 meters squared for the following reasons.

It's only a reduction of five meters squared, which is approximately 53.8 feet squared.

And the property complies with all of the other home occupation requirements, including the two required parking spaces on site, in addition to the one that is required for the single family dwelling.

There is no secondary suite, garden suite, or daycare located on the subject property.

There's no changes proposed for the exterior of the residence, and the applicant lives in the dwelling and will only be engaged, and they will be the only ones engaged, I should say, in the home occupation, which is the bed and breakfast.

So next slide.

So as a result, um the recommendation before you today is that council authorize the issuance of development variants permit to 2501 for 21 Covey Crescent, subject to any additional comments which may be received by the public.

Okay, um, if you could hang out there for a sec, I'll just see if we have any questions for staff at all.

Um I I have a question in general, and that is about the lot size as a as a rationale for a bed and breakfast.

I would think it would have more to do with a house size and number of bedrooms, but maybe it's just uh my my thinking.

Um, and and probably it's been some time since we've updated this particular bylaw.

I'm just wondering if staff uh is aware of other municipalities if lot size is a requirement for a bed and breakfast.

Through the chair.

Um, yes, as part of my research regarding the home occupations, which I hope to bring forward soon.

I have been looking at other municipalities and what they require for their bed and breakfast.

Um, as of yet, no, none of them truly require a lot size for the majority of the municipalities.

Um, there is um every one or two, for example.

The majority of them have a limit in terms of bedrooms and how many guests are available to visit the site.

Okay, thank you.

Uh uh, let's go to Councillor McKenzie and Councillor Matzer, please.

Just had a question around the parking.

I know you said that they had um the the right amount of fit.

Does that mean is that just the driveway that counts, or is it also the ground?

And then I'm thinking there's having the space and then there's the convenience of the space.

So are we talking there's gonna be three stacked and maybe that's inconvenient so people park on the street instead?

So through the chair, thank you for that question.

Um so while most like in terms of this have residence, they do have a garage.

However, we don't typically refer to that as a parking space, um, mainly because other people use it for storage.

Um so in this case there is three individual parking spaces side by side in front of the house, um, which are available.

So like I said, one for the residents and two for the proposed business.

Okay, thank you.

So they said you said they're they're side by side, so it wouldn't mean you know parking behind one another, correct thank you counselor metz and could you tell me how many bed and breakfast is we actually have licensed off the top of my head I do not have this number any other questions counselor lemon and then counselor rogers okay please uh well let's uh let's yeah unless there's a reason that we're pressed to right now if uh there's any questions or comments uh counselor lemon just in the order of making sure everybody has them.

Uh questions for uh go ahead councillor Roger.

Thank you.

Well well we don't know the number of um um bed and breakfast in V Row do we have have we had many complaints for those with bread and breakfast that are in the in the town has the town received uh many complaints about them um through the through the chair we have not dug into um bylaw enforcement on for this particular application as it um yeah it doesn't really apply here so it's not a hot issue thank you uh if there's no other questions then counselor lemon go ahead with your motion please i i think rather than take the motion, it may be advisable to work through the agenda and then you're right.

You're right, sir.

Thank you.

I'm glad you're here.

Uh so uh comments uh from the applicant.

So the applicant does not have to make comments about it, but if they would like to, um they're welcome to make comments and now is the appropriate time to do it if you want to approach the podium.

Um just want to thank the council for considering our application, basically, and we'll accept I can take any questions personally if you have any.

Council have any questions for the applicant?

Go ahead.

Have you had much experience in in uh operating um a bed and breakfast before?

Um through my parents personally.

Uh we've had guests stay with us, um, but not as a uh legal bed and breakfast and we want to follow the guidelines.

So you're familiar how they how they operate and everything.

Yes, we are thank you if there's no other questions then thank you thank you uh and now it comes time if there's any questions from the public or concerns for the public on specifically uh 21 Toby Crescent's application for a bed and breakfast now is an appropriate time to um address counsel and if there's nobody in here Carl do we receive anything online for Toby Crescent?

Mayor Tobias, no questions or comments.

Okay, thank you.

And we have uh I think one email correspondence associated with um with the uh variants, and that was I think a similar concern regarding parking, um, which I think I believe staff has answered now.

Appreciate uh uh thank you.

Seconder seconded by counselor brown, all in favor of recited correspondence.

Any opposed, seeing that opposed, motion carries.

I think uh now is an appropriate time, Councilor Lemon, for you to um move something.

Well, I'd I move, and this is this is really easy to support.

Um I move second.

Staff's recommendation.

And seconded by counselor uh Mattson.

Uh Councilor Mattson, did you want to motivate at all?

No, that's okay, easy.

Councilor Rogers.

Yeah, just a comment from the correspondence from Ms.

Mr.

and Mrs.

Foster.

I'm trust there won't be any difficulties, but I trust that staff will be monitoring that.

It is indeed a busy street.

So I hope that as always there'll be careful monitoring and and uh um warnings, enforcement, whatever is necessary, but I I doubt it.

I just hope there is.

And that'd be our an assurance to the neighborhood as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Rogers.

Uh so if there are no other further comments or questions, all those in favor of uh staff's recommendation.

Thank you.

Are there any opposed?

Saying not opposed.

Motion carries.

You could stick around for the rest of the night if you want to, but it doesn't get any better than this, all right?

I'm just just warning you.

Um and uh Walk is park design finalization, I think is where we're at.

Item B, Ivan.

Thank you, Mayor Tobias.

I'm the young director of engineering.

Uh just come here before you with uh the support, Aucas Park is part design finalization.

It was actually brought forward um at the February eleventh committee of the whole.

Uh it was tabled for um in case there's going to be any deliberations during budget.

Um per the last few council meetings, this uh project is still within our 2025.

So the purpose of this um of this report is to seek um council approval of the landscape design that you see before you.

Before we go into it, um let me just go over some of the stats that we received from the open house that took place on November 17th, uh, 2024.

This was done in in adjacent to the uh BC Transit Handy Dart uh open house.

And so as a result, we had 68 residents attend the on-site event.

100% of the respondents either loved or liked the draft concept.

Most respondents agreed that the park met the community objectives of a quiet park.

Additional suggestions included more trees and landscaping, bat houses, drinking fountains, lighting, sound mitigation measures, and garbage receptacles.

45 responses were provided during the survey, of which most respondents, about almost 60%, either loved or liked the draft concept.

Only seven responses disliked.

96% of respondents believed that the park met the community objectives of a quiet park.

The most liked features in the park were native shrubs and perennials, bird houses, curved bench, and the gravel path.

71% of the respondents found that the design was accessible.

81% believe that the design addresses environmental impacts, and 69% would vary and somewhat likely visit the park space.

Overall, when you took those two engagements invets together, 72% of all respondents loved and liked the concept.

And there is a CRD, important CRD infrastructure there that prevents us from doing much in the area.

But that said, uh upon uh hiring a landscape architect, taking into our budgets into consideration, we have a design that can be done this year.

And so what you have well, I'll just kind of go over the the minor details of what we have.

But in the screen before you you'll see that there's this is the entire space um to the to kind of the bottom left is where the handy dart uh site is um it's kind of um it was being bisected by the Galloping Goose Trail.

And you'll notice a red line that kind of splits down the middle.

So this is basically a division between phase one and phase two.

Given the budget we have this year, we believe we can do phase one, which is the area on the left.

Phase two would be in a future year or if we were to get uh additional grant funding.

So for phase one, the only uh well, it's a balance of um walkability, having an open lawn space for uh grazing, um quiet activities, running around.

Um, we do have some vegetation on the outside.

Uh the vegetation is um access two part.

One is to provide shade for refuge areas, and the other one is to kind of provide a barrier from the uh the slope.

So kind of where the red the red dot is here, there's a slope here, and so it does provide a barrier to prevent people from going over that slope.

Uh, within these treed areas, you see there's two kind of gray circles, and so these are proposed curved seating nodes.

Um we don't have a detailed design here yet.

We are going to consult with the parks department to determine what's the best type of seat to do.

We want to make sure that it's maintainable and not overly costly to maintain and replace.

And the idea would be to put some sort of three sails pattern to it.

Most likely it would just be score lines.

It's very difficult to color triangles, but uh score lines are quite easy to do.

So that's the plan to kind of provide a view royal identity to this park.

Uh bird houses would be incorporated.

So actually, new roads built these bird houses for us, and they're kind they're stored until such time that this park is established, and then they would install those bird houses, and those will likely be installed.

I think there's yellow squares in here, so there's a few along where the treat areas are.

And then the gray you'll see is a nice walking path that connects with uh with the seating notes.

Split roll fence is proposed uh on the back side of the sidewalk just to provide more of a a um defined space for the park.

Uh, we did hear from residents during the open house that perhaps it adds some split well fence in by the three-to-one slope area, which um staff are amenable to.

That just makes sense.

So it's uh it's it's actually a great comment that we receive from residents about that.

Future considerations.

This is an open space.

Uh, we do understand that you know, a couple years from now there'll be a parks and trails master plan.

Uh, plenty of opportunity to do more in the future.

Uh, urban forest strategy may suggest planting more trees.

Uh, so there are certain things we could do in the future.

One of them uh ongoing indigenous engagement.

Uh, the there has been some interest from First Nations in this area and providing a kind of an indigenous narrative to it.

Uh, that was also included in the in the what we heard summary.

Bat houses was also another item that could we could take a look at in the future.

More seating and picnic tables, that is something that we weren't able to incorporate in this design because it's too costly given the budgets.

Certainly can be provided in the future.

Reducing invasive species, that is something that the town could do as part of his uh expanding invasive species removal project.

So next steps essentially should council approve of this design.

We have three things we need to do obtain official permitting from the CRD and the province of BC, which they have in principle given to us.

Uh commence a committed bidding process for the installation to landscaping.

And then finally, which is something that uh council may love, is to engage council regarding the official park name in accordance with our uh parks naming renaming of municipal assets policy.

So the recommendation is that council approved the landscape design from the New Walkers Park, but I'm happy to take questions.

Thank you.

Great.

Before I go to my colleagues, I've got just one quick one.

Ivan, I know that uh I'm by Chancellor Park every day, and there's quite a few folks from the uh the trail that will stop uh and and just have a rest.

Is there any access at all or just because of the uh height uh from from the actual trail to the park?

Uh yeah, it's a good question, Mayor Tobias.

There's uh the answer is two-pronged.

One, yes, there is a three-to-one slope here, so it's quite difficult.

But the other thing, too, is that uh upon consultation with the C or D, they uh heavily limit the amount of accesses to their trails.

So it wasn't allowed by the C or D.

Nope, that's fair.

Thanks, thanks, Ivan, for that.

Uh questions for my colleagues.

Councilor Rogers.

Uh yes, thank you.

Um I'm I'm happy that you stayed within budget.

Um, this is the um uh not our park.

We do not own this land.

Uh it's a 10-year lease from what I understand from the province.

And um and the the grant money was the 17,500, whatever.

So um we've we've stayed within budget, but um uh I would hope that we do not invest any more unless there were planting trees and um um but um until we actually have our parks master plan because there's a little road and many other parks that require um uh our attention and and development.

One of them is and I guess maybe there's two.

So um a couple of questions.

I I see two designs.

One is is you got a benched area that has north southeast west directional, and another that has the three sales uh town logo.

Is that one of each and in the two locations?

Uh Mayor Tobias, I believe the idea is to have two of them, both of them being the three sales.

That said, um council can certainly um direct staff to provide something different.

It certainly either either option uh sounds fine.

Um I I also the the grass area is is lovely.

Um I think um uh it'll be very inviting for uh for parents and toddlers to kick the ball around, but unfortunately uh a ball will go down the gravity, the uh the slope that you just spoke spoke about.

So um I think for uh for safety and uh those those considerations uh staff's rec consideration recommendation of offense is well founded.

So um, you know, thank you for that.

Um yeah, I um it do you think there's any concerns about um uh folks congregating and being of concern to the neighbors that I think maybe a little close to this.

Any thoughts?

Uh yeah, so the uh mayor to bias, the basis of this design is to follow set dead principles, so to uh mitigate that issue.

And so what you'll see here is open space um everywhere in that park essentially visible.

And the idea behind that is to um mitigate that uh that issue of congregating um at night, etc.

Any other comments uh or questions?

Uh Council Lemon.

I think this is lovely, Ivan.

I think it's going to be a really nice space.

Will there be any?

Not you know, there will be dog users that go through the park or use the park.

And clearly, because it's by a busy road, um, they'll need to be leashed.

Will you have a dogs must be leashed sign on site?

Or can we?

Uh yeah, Mayor Tobias, we will we will be providing that sign.

Thanks.

Good.

Any other comments or questions?

Uh Ivan, I think this is a great uh great plan.

You've done uh wonders.

Uh it is a leased area, and I I'm very much in favor of just having green space.

I think there's a need sometimes or of a children's playground and and whatnot.

But as some neighborhoods mature, the kids grow up and they're not really the houses aren't turned over as much, and then you lose that green space of people just going up to enjoy it.

So I'm very much in favor of this.

If there's no other questions or comments, uh, Councilor Rogers.

Yes, uh an excellent point from uh Councilor Lemon.

Uh will there be um, you know, as as people are walking the dogs by, will they have will there be a dog dispensary uh dog bags and um garbage can?

Uh yeah, Mayor Tobias, there's certainly something that we can consider.

Um there will be that garbage can is quite heavily used, so by the bus stop, so we'll look at upgrades there, whether there's additional uh garbage cans needed.

Uh on the topic of of doggy bags, we certainly that's something we look at case by case and we assess.

We spend a lot of money on doggy bags.

Thanks, Ivan.

Uh, would somebody like to propose a motion?

Uh Councillor Mattson moves back to recommendation to move by uh or seconded by Councillor Lemon.

All those uh comment on yep.

Uh yeah, I'm certainly in support of and and staff.

Um I would encourage uh by with you observing and watching if there's there are risks of uh weirdwood balls and and uh safety of children in the park.

Um I hope that would be a priority for consideration.

Fenching.

Thanks.

Okay, uh Counselor Rogers.

Uh Councillor Mattson, did you want to motivate at all?

Councilor Lemon?

Uh okay, motion on the floor is to approve staff's recommendation.

All those in favor.

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, unanimously.

Thanks, Ivan.

Uh and policy development uh process.

So I think, Sarah, is this you?

It is.

It was not clear to me whether council wished to simply receive it or hear a presentation.

Move receipt.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Any comments?

Counselor or Councillor McKenzie, please.

Yeah, I'll speak to it only because I originally raised it.

Um so it was a while ago, back when we have had committees, and it was more around when do they get involved in our policy making.

Um, so it's not totally relevant anymore, but I still have the same sentiment that I think public engagement should happen as uh soon as possible to help direct uh the direction of staff's work.

Um I see this uh so in the report it says, you know, from steps three onwards, that's really when people, the public should be engaged.

However, I also think that they should be engaged in the objective phase.

And this is because a lot of times these policy requests come from special interest groups or the members of the public who have in-depth knowledge, far more in knowledge than I do about a topic, for instance the environment, and they are actually better placed to give direction uh in terms of what our policy objective should be.

So that's why I wanted um us to look at this process.

I don't think uh this really re responds to it.

Like it's just a report for information, I think.

So I still want us to engage early on with the public in our policy making.

Thank you.

Thanks, Counselor McKenzie.

To my understanding we do so with bylaws, of course, whether that's required by law.

But there are some policies I guess I'm struggling with your request because there's some policies that are just entirely internal, financial policy, what have you they don't require extensive public engagement.

They just so I I'm just wondering if you can separate out or help me and and perhaps staff out with which policies should be part of public engagement and which should are just corporate governance and kind of just making the wheels go around.

Right.

I would have to I'll have to come back with that information.

Um yeah, because it's more of a general principle to me.

So I I'm also kind of referring to bylaws as as well.

Um so yeah.

Thanks, Counselor Mackenzie.

And so we got uh uh mover and a seconder for um receipt to other wish to motivate.

Seeing nobody wants to uh the only comment the only comment makers, you know, if and when we get committees, then let's let's indeed we have another look.

Okay.

Mackenzie, did you have another comment that you want?

All those in favor of receipt.

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed.

Motion carries.

That brings us down to the draft annual report.

Not sure who's going to speak to it.

Scott, is this you?

I can certainly speak to it.

Um before you this evening is a draft annual report.

Um it's important we say draft because we are missing one section for permissive tax exemptions, which we usually put in uh the SOFI report, the statement of financial information, but it's actually required in the annual report.

So uh uh Director Bellard, there he is, uh pointed that out to me this morning.

Um, so still a draft.

Um the purpose of the annual report is to give a look back at 2024, uh glimpse into what we will do in 2025, and I look forward to what we plan to do in 2026, uh, measures and performance for 2024 and what the measures are for success in 2025 and 2026.

Um aside from that, council usually likes to see uh photos of beautiful view royal.

I'd like to commend Jen Cochran.

Um, she does the line share of the work on the annual report, and uh I think put together a very nice draft for you this evening.

Councilor Mattson, please.

Yeah, first off, very pretty job, looks really good.

Uh but one one question I do have is like do we have a other than a legislative requirement to produce this is there some underlying goal or something that we could be adding like promoting um commercial developers something something to encourage whatever we want brought into the town because i lots of good information but i wonder if there's a way of sort of adding something to it not this time but it but in the future that would uh help promote whatever we want to promote uh through the mayor um you know, certainly using it as a promotional document is a is a great idea.

They're typically they're separate.

Um there will be some other pamphlet.

Um we don't put a lot of money into generating promotional materials.

Um so maybe it's a good idea.

My hope is that um more than a dozen people in View Royal will actually download or read the annual report.

Um I will put a pitch in that if you read the annual report, you will know more about V Royal than your neighbors do and uh you can look down upon them or educate them.

So I our goal is always that it will be like a coffee table book and uh people from V Royal will gather around and uh discuss all the exciting things we do here.

Um But uh I I think we just try to make it as engaging as we can.

Thank you.

Uh just um uh comment.

I don't see that we added um uh or maybe I skipped over it, uh, the uh best place in Canada for an entrepreneur to live that was the Globe and Mail piece.

We should certainly add that to the draft.

I will make a note of that.

And I I know that a lot of our work uh has been consumed around advocacy to the province for uh funding and doing a lot of provincial work.

I can capture a lot of that in in the mayor's comments on there.

But um uh Scott, was there uh a period that you'd like uh some feedback from us?

Um that that there's a deadline or drop dead deadline that this has to be um put out.

We would like to have it finished off by the end of uh June um so um starting tonight uh open season for making improvements to it and I would say why why don't we say the end of uh next week for feedback on it um and thank you for the feedback provided tonight uh comments or questions any way any way we can put in somewhere that we want to council will is encouraging a hotel to come into the community and we will bend over backwards to make it happen should you be interested.

I oh maybe we could put that under uh future desires or something yeah we can certainly um uh accommodate um using it a bit of a promotional uh any other comments questions we have one week for submissions uh i think uh scott you won them by the end of this week um that would be fantastic but why don't why don't we say uh end of next week okay and it is going out to the public so people will know about dash and also be able to provide comments through the website right good thank you i just had a note passed to me reminding us that uh it was 2025 uh when we received the award for the the best town for entrepreneurs um so maybe we can try to find a way to get mileage for it, but yeah, it hurts to mention.

Yeah, it's it's interesting.

You know, we we we can get two years out of that.

I think we get some mileage out of it.

Okay, we'll we'll find a way.

Okay, uh so the end of next week for feedback.

Uh can I get a mover and a seconder to uh uh receive?

Second move by councillor Matson, seconded by Councilor Lemon.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

None opposed.

Motion carries, and I think this the end.

Does this bring this down to you?

Or are we just gonna go through this?

Is a consent agenda, so sorry, Leanne.

Um uh does anybody want to pull an item out of the consent agenda?

So this goes for everything that we've already discussed on the committee of the whole.

If anybody wants to pull one out to um discuss it more wholesomely or uh wants to pull it out for any reason they can do so now.

Moving the consent agenda.

Second.

Seconded by counselor rogers.

All those in favor any opposed seeing none opposed motion carries and I think that takes us down to correspondence and that was uh tree permit and the fuel turn to your staff recommendations and it was an email on a tree permit and associated conditions for dead trees.

Question understand.

Yes, please.

Yeah, that's thank you for the um uh guidance on on this matter.

So um staff recommended that there could be a tree replacement or cash in lieu for removing a dead tree.

Uh is that would that have to could that be of effective immediately or does that have to you have to change the bylaw?

Uh Mayor Tobias, that it's within our current bylaw, so it could be done that way.

Do you need a motion to that effect?

Uh Mayor Tobias, no.

Um, however, I think the the letter is asking for counsel to reconsider.

So um it would help staff if a decision was made.

Um whether it be the staff recommendation or not.

Yeah, I I would um uh support staff's recommendation.

It it seems like a reasonable position um in uh in and consistent with the tree bylaw.

Yeah, I think the issues here, if I understand this correctly, the the the tree was dead, but it's not only the tree, it's below ground as well.

So the person that's developing the property needs to put a sewer line out.

Uh and so it's the roots as well that are the issue, Ivan, but you can clarify better tonight.

Yeah, thank you, Mary Tobias.

That's a separate issue.

This one's on a different address on uh I believe V Roll Avenue, um, a dead tree that's uh correct.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh council McKenzie.

I do have I I know the reason we have these uh things to replace the tree, but to me it's also kind of punitive in nature.

Um and it would really discourage people from uh actually attending to remove the tree.

Wouldn't you just leave the tree if it was dead and you know that it to do it, you would have to get somebody to pay for somebody to come remove it, then pay for its replacement or a cash in lieu.

And I just think it I know it's to prevent people from purposely perhaps doing that so that they don't have to keep the tree or they could in order to develop the property or something like that.

But I just yeah, I just think our bylaws really kind of punitive on people for things that might be outside their control.

Yeah, in it they sort of ask the question if there's a dead tree, why do I need a permit?

And my understanding need a permit is so that we can require uh replacement trees and uh or allow them to uh provide us money in lieu of.

So I I certainly support support that for if it's a tree in your yard, uh having to do that.

Councilor Brown.

Yeah, we have a really good program here in Town of E Royal.

There's uh application forms out front where people can uh uh put a form in to request the tree, and it's quite a selection of trees, so um it doesn't necessarily have to be punitive, people can select the tree that they want.

I think there's dog wisner and I can't remember um decorative plum trees and things like that so people can uh can do that without having to go out and do uh garden works or whatever and buy a hundred dollar tree thank you counselor brown uh Ivan you had uh point thank you Mary Tobias just just to clarify uh on that point yes we do have a lovely program to provide free trees to residents um they are not considered replacement trees um the trees that are provided are a lot smaller in size than what a replacement tree is supposed to be.

Can't help myself.

Council Watson.

But but if it is a dead tree, I think, and I guess this would be maybe maybe in the future require a policy change.

And so you shouldn't be penalized with having to go to yard works or wherever to buy a new one.

But if it's a dead tree, uh, I don't you aren't intentionally cutting it down.

You should be able to use the town's trees for a dead tree in your yard.

Counselor Lowen.

If you leave the tree, it's a hazard for falling.

If you leave the tree, it's a hazard for fire.

Um so you know, if you're responsible homeowner, you have to remove it.

So there shouldn't be a consequence for that.

And um I I do agree with Councillor Matt Um Mackenzie.

Thanks, Councillor Lemon.

Um Ivan, uh uh from my understanding, so who declares the tree is dead?

Is it the town's arborist or does somebody provide an arborist report?

Um yeah, Mayor Tobias, both.

Uh for more complex situations, the the resident provides a arborist.

And for um for very simple ones, we do have a contract arborist that we sometimes use to do as a third-party reviewer to the arborist.

So either way, in terms of determination of whether a tree is dead, an ISA certified arborist definitely does that.

Um it's either dead disease or dying.

So uh, you know, when it comes to dead tree, we consider you we consider that dead dead.

Um dying is a is a little bit of a different um a different kind of way of maneuvering around that.

Okay, uh so any other questions or comments?

Anybody want to make a motion?

Yeah, second.

If there's gonna be a policy change, we should look at the policy and not change it at a meeting.

Uh it's consistent agree.

And I I think you know, if uh the two counselors brought up some good points about uh it being punitive or whatever so that means we change the policy we don't change it on the fly um to do it because i i the the intent here is by the same token we'll uh talk for hours about retaining trees right and and some of those trees the the the the most beautiful trees in town are on private property that i've seen uh they're well cared for uh and and this doesn't happen all at once nobody's coming in to mcill mcmillan bloodell isn't coming in to clear cut view royal we're losing them one by one uh some for development some because of drought some because of other reasons that they just naturally reach life expectancy uh but if we don't replace them then they're not magically going to show up uh so if it's a a value that we have as a council for the town um uh I think we probably need to look at our policy but that should be separate than tonight's decision.

Council Brown.

Yes going back to the free trees you know if someone gets a free tree and they keep it for 15 or 20 years and all of a sudden it's huge it's a blade or something and they want to take it down well then to me they should be able to replace it with another free tree.

That's just that's just my opinion.

And something we could look at when we look at a new tree policy that probably will be guided somewhat with our urban forest strategy.

I'm thinking uh that's already in the work.

So we've got uh uh I think we had a mover, correct me if I'm wrong.

We had a mover and a seconder for uh staff's recommendation.

All those in favor?

Any opposed?

Seeing none opposed, motion carries.

Two opposed.

Two opposed, sorry.

I was Councillor McKenzie and Councillor Rock, uh Council Lemon were opposed.

Okay, thank you.

Uh motion carries.

I think this brings us down to no submotion.

So this is where you just get to read it in and not talk about it.

Uh did I miss something?

Oh, I missed a question period.

Thank you for that.

Um does anybody have a question for council at all?

Doesn't have to be a topic related to the agenda.

Hi, I'm Doug Noel, Noel Place.

Um, it was just more of an observation when we were talking about the uh signage for the um the traffic signage, traffic calming.

One of the questions I wondered was it's kind of a FIFO pro first in, first out.

Well, if there's 20 in the queue and they haven't got signage, may they not be upset that all of a sudden somebody new is getting signage on their streets that we didn't look at the ones that were already in the system.

So that was just a question.

Um, and I don't know if Ivan has the number of how many are in that queue, but certainly if I was in the queue and I found out that other people are getting signage, I would be a little, I might be a little annoyed.

And the other one I kind of thought was we do as good citizens pay attention to my neighbors who put signs out.

Doesn't matter if it's a view royal sign.

I took a little offense to the fact that good citizens don't pay attention to their neighbor sign.

They only pay attention if it's a view royal sign or a police sign.

Um we need to encourage good citizens to pay attention to our neighbors.

We have street signs in our neighborhood for the kids, and they're not view royal signs, but I certainly notice them and pay attention to them.

That was all.

Thank you.

I just wanted to point out it isn't the neighbors that are the issue, it's the people who are driving in from other places.

Yeah, and uh I I think when Ivan's um backlog, there's not a um, it might be a speed bump, it might be a chicane, it could be something more than than signage.

And I think the difficulty in this particular case is um uh this particular daycare is located like a block in in kind of a very uh rural residential area.

If it was on Helmkin or uh you know Old Island Highway, I don't think it would be as much of an issue.

Uh, but it's it's hard enough to get a goat cart down through some of the areas and some of those roads in the inner harbor at most times.

So thank you for your question.

Um any other questions?

I didn't understand the tree part.

Just a question.

My question about my tree that died on my driveway next to my hydro line that I have to cut down for $1200.

And my property is very heavily treed and I love trees.

But I guess what is the direction now you guys are going to review the tree policy.

I I think uh two counselors um are motivated enough to uh to look at um what that looks like for for equity.

Um you know there's some people that don't want any trees on their property and and there's others that lament the fact that they've lost one and they have many uh perhaps like yourself.

So where do we kind of strike that balance?

And I it's not council's intention to be punitive i i don't think at all it's uh it's to how do we maintain what we've got and not even though it's a two for one for a replacement the thought is that maybe one of those two trees is gonna survive um so any feedback that you can give us as well on you know how could we make this better um because uh you don't have control sometimes over when a tree dies on your property it just happens uh I've had it happen on my property and it was just a you you can't see the rot that occurs underground and all of a sudden you get a bit of a windstorm and it's down.

Uh and hopefully it goes the right way and not against your host.

Um but uh yeah, any feedback that you can give us on that would be appreciated too.

Like how do we make this more equitable?

Uh I was just from Counselor Brown's um perspective of in terms of encouragement rather than punitive, if it is a tree that has died naturally, of course there is, you know, people with malintent that would go and spike a tree or something, whatever, like you can't prevent that.

But in terms of promoting um compliance or promoting reforesting with the with the tree program in terms of these trees that die naturally that I have no control over, like I would be more than willing to plant a sapling and hope that it survives if the tree pro you know town provides me the two, happy to do that, but to go out and purchase like I think the minimum heights are six feet or something, it's gonna cost another, you know, three, four hundred bucks.

Um so that in terms of that, if it could be stratified for, you know, purposeful removal rather than just died of natural occurrence and and some opportunity to participate and encourage participation without that uh punitive nature be appreciated thank you thanks for your feedback appreciate that um any other anybody else with a question seeing nobody else Carl we got any questions from online mayor Tobias we've had no questions or messages this evening thanks Carol um now I think we can go to uh a notice of motion counselor Rogers could you read in your notice of motion, please.

Yes, thank you.

The uh the motion would be that if you will become a standard member of the destination greater Victoria, Tourism Victoria, commencing this year, 2025 at a prorated um rate of five hundred and forty five dollars I will motivate at the next meeting.

Thank you very much, Councilor Rogers, for bringing that forward.

Um I think this comes into a closed meeting announcement, Sarah.

Could you close the meeting, please?

Thank you.

Yes, there is a need to have a meeting closed to the public in persons other than the media members of council officers, employees of the town, and those identified under section 91, subsection two of the community charter shall be excluded on the basis of section 91J.

Information is prohibited under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and K municipal Service folks uh and we don't have any rising report and can i get a uh motion to terminate, please?

Seconded.

Moved by Councillor Brown, seconded by counselor makenzie all those in favor any opposed non opposed motion carries thanks folks