MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024
Official record of the council proceedings from the March 5, 2024, meeting including approvals, reports, and resolutions.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL
MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024 VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT WERE:
- Councillor Mattson, Acting Mayor
- Councillor Brown
- Councillor Kowalewich
- Councillor Lemon
- Councillor MacKenzie
- Councillor Mattson
- Councillor Rogers
REGRETS:
- Mayor Tobias
PRESENT ALSO:
- S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer
- S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO
- L. Taylor, Director of Development Services
- D. Christenson, Director of Finance and Technology
- I. Leung, Director of Engineering
- J. Chow, Senior Planner
- E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer
- 3 members of the public
- 0 members of the press
1. CALL TO ORDER
Acting Mayor, Councillor Mattson, called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
The Acting Mayor acknowledged that the meeting is being held on the traditional territory of the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT the agenda be amended to include items 8.1 a) 2. and 9 a); AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED
3. MINUTES, RECEIPT & ADOPTION OF
a) Minutes of the Special Council meeting held February 15, 2024 MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT the minutes of the Special Council meeting held February 15, 2024 be adopted as presented. CARRIED
b) Minutes of the Council meeting held February 20, 2024 MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT the minutes of the Council meeting held February 20, 2024 be adopted as presented. CARRIED
4. MAYOR’S REPORT
5. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD
7. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
8. REPORTS
8.1 STAFF REPORTS
a) Development Permit Application 2022/09 – 1681 Island Highway
- Report dated February 28, 2024 from the Senior Planner
- Supplemental drawing for Development Permit dated March 4, 2024 from Hearth Architectural
The Senior Planner gave a summary of the report to Council. Council, staff, and architect, J. Muego, Hearth Architectural, discussed the parapet, canopies, and the east building elevation.
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT the supplemental drawing for Development Permit 2022/09 dated March 4, 2024 from Hearth Architectural be received. CARRIED
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-29-24 THAT Development Permit Application 2022/09 be approved as per the report dated February 8, 2024 from the Senior Planner titled “Development Permit Application 2022/09 – 1681 Island Highway”; AND THAT staff work with the applicant for further refinements to the east elevation of the building prior to the issuance of the development permit. CARRIED
b) Purchase of Brush Truck
- Report dated February 28, 2024 from the Fire Chief
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Brown
C-30-24 THAT the sole source purchase of a used fire engine brush truck from Brindalee Mountain Fire Apparatus through a notice of intent to award for a value not to exceed $350,000 CAD be approved. CARRIED
8.2 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RESOLUTIONS
Council discussed the need for a Communications and Engagement Coordinator, noting that the rationale provided in the Project Summary is strong and that this position will be reviewed in one or two years.
Councillor MacKenzie stated she does not feel the Communications and Engagement Coordinator position is necessary as legislative changes will see a reduction in the number of mailouts required for public hearings where redevelopments are consistent with the Official Community Plan. She feels this will allow staff the time to spend on other types of engagement.
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-31-24 THAT the Communications and Engagement Coordinator (N-103) position begin as a 0.5 FTE in 2024 with a review of that equivalency status to be undertaken in one or two years. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-32-24 THAT Project N-111 Asset management program improvements be approved in the 2024-2028 Financial Plan; AND THAT staff apply for the BC Infrastructure Planning Grant to support the funding of asset management program improvements as described by Project N-111 that are scheduled for 2024. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
Council noted the need for the additional policing municipal employee position, as municipal employees are important in giving support to RCMP officers.
Councillor MacKenzie questioned the 3:1 ratio of municipal employees to police officers. The Chief Administrative Officer noted this is a common ratio in similar municipalities.
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Brown
C-33-24 THAT the Additional policing municipal employees (N-053) position for 2024 begin July 1. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-34-24 THAT Additional RCMP members (N-054), requesting an officer in 2024, be approved for the position to commence in October 2024. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-35-24 THAT, in addition to the October 2024 position, that the 2024-2028 Financial Plan’s Additional RCMP members (N-054) request be supported for one member in 2027. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
Council and staff discussed the start date for the Atkins Road sidewalk – Anya Court to Langford border capital project.
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-36-24 THAT the priority for the Atkins Road sidewalk – Anya Court to Langford border (C-107) capital project be moved from “strategic” to “required”. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-37-24 THAT the Curb and sidewalks – Burnside Rd W-Helmcken to Saanich border (C-117) capital project be moved from 2024/2025 to 2025/2026. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
Council and staff discussed the extent of the noise barrier study, what the proposed complete project is intended to provide, a potential future review for the Portage Inlet area, the efficacy of noise barrier fencing, alternative noise barriers and associated risks, and the potential for the Capital Regional District to contribute to the noise barrier study.
Staff noted they will keep Council apprised as the study proceeds.
MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED:
THAT the Committee recommend to Council that $100,000 be put toward a noise barrier study in 2024 for the Noise barrier fencing – Hwy. 1 off-ramp at Six Mile Road (C-179) capital project. DEFEATED Councillors Brown, Kowalewich, Lemon, MacKenzie and Rogers opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-38-24 THAT data be collected to identify the volume of grey water/sewer by source in the vicinity of the Sewer gravity main upgrade-Fort Victoria to Pheasant Lane (C-109) capital project (Kislingbury to Pheasant Lanes). CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-39-24 THAT the Development of road ends (C-114) capital project be deferred to 2025. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-40-24 THAT the Disc golf course (C-116) capital project be removed from the 2024-2028 Financial Plan in perpetuity. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-41-24 THAT the tax-funded reserve contributions be reduced by the equivalent of a 0.25% tax increase; AND THAT the use of accumulated surplus be increased by the equivalent of a 0.25% tax increase. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Brown SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
C-42-24 THAT the transition to taxation for the West Shore Parks and Recreation service be deferred from 2024 to 2026. CARRIED Councillor MacKenzie opposed
8.3 OTHER REPORTS
9 CORRESPONDENCE
9.1 FOR ACTION
a) Email dated March 4, 2024 from T. Dennison, Executive Coordinator, AVICC, Re: View Royal Resolution – Modernize the Municipal Police Cost Sharing Formula
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Brown
C-43-24 THAT the following amended resolution be forwarded to the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities 2024 Convention:
“WHEREAS inflation, officer burnout, rising equipment costs, and rapidly increasing officer salaries have made the existing cost sharing formulas and RCMP policing costs unsustainable for local governments;
AND WHEREAS the Province’s housing legislation, including Bill 44 and Bill 47, may lead to increased policing costs, while Bill 46 will allow for police facilities to be funded through development cost charges, but will not help address the issue of police capacity;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Province work with local governments to develop a new RCMP funding framework that gradually increases the cost-share rate for local governments at the 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 40,000 population thresholds;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the above amendments be implemented immediately, prior to the 2026 federal census.” CARRIED
9.2 FOR INFORMATION
a) Letter dated February 29, 2024 from Min. Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Re: Costs for Police Dispatch and Province-Wide Equity
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the letter dated February 29, 2024 from Min. Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Re: Costs for Police Dispatch and Province-Wide Equity be received for information. CARRIED
10. BYLAWS
11. NEW BUSINESS
12. QUESTION PERIOD
a) D. Frewing, View Royal Avenue, inquired as to the retention of the hedge at the 167-171 Island Highway development; and the use of surplus funds, if any, earned by the Town from the Province for wildfire support.
The Director of Finance and Technology noted that surplus wildfire funds provided by the Province are placed in the fire equipment reserve fund for future fire equipment replacement.
13. MOTIONS & NOTICES OF MOTION
14. CLOSED MEETING RESOLUTION
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT there is a need to have a meeting closed to the public and persons other than the immediate members of Council, officers, and employees of the Town, and those identified under Section 91 (2) of the Community Charter shall be excluded on the basis of Section 90 (1)(e) – land and (k) – municipal services. CARRIED
16. RISING REPORT
17. TERMINATION
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT this meeting now terminate. Time: 7:59 p.m. CARRIED
MAYOR
CORPORATE OFFICER
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