MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE:

• Mayor Tobias
• Councillor Brown
• Councillor Lemon
• Councillor MacKenzie
• Councillor Mattson – via Microsoft Teams
• Councillor Rogers

REGRETS:

• Councillor Kowalewich

PRESENT ALSO:

• S. Sommerville, Chief Administrative Officer
• S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO
• D. Christenson, Director of Finance and Technology
• I. Leung, Director of Engineering
• E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer
• 6 members of the public
• 1 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor MacKenzie
SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

THAT the agenda be approved as presented. CARRIED

3. MINUTES, RECEIPT & ADOPTION OF

a) Minutes of the Council meeting held April 2, 2024

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the minutes of the Council meeting held April 2, 2024 be adopted as presented. CARRIED

4. MAYOR’S REPORT

The Mayor noted the Town is hosting Earth Day activities at Welland Legacy Park on April 22, 2024; he will be attending an event in Esquimalt for a new road expansion and health centre; and he will be meeting with Mayor Murdock, District of Saanich, to discuss tree planting.

5. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD

7. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

8. REPORTS

8.1 STAFF REPORTS

a) Island Highway and Helmcken Road Transit Corridor Classification

1. Report dated April 10, 2024 from the Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering gave a summary of the report to Council.

Council and staff discussed BC Transit’s definition of frequent transit route; corridor strategies; congestion preventing a fifteen-minute service frequency model; encouraging BC Transit to keep a future Route 40 as a priority; and designation impact, including in relation to the new BC Housing legislation and Council’s ability to provide input on development.

MOVED BY: Councillor MacKenzie
SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-65-24 THAT staff confirm to BC Transit that the transit service classification for both the Island Highway, between Burnside Road West to Helmcken Road, and Helmcken Road, between Watkiss Way and Burnside Road West, remain as frequent transit classifications;

AND THAT the Town encourage BC Transit to fully implement the proposed new Route 40, extending service along Admirals Road from the McKenzie Interchange, as soon as possible and at a frequent transit service level. CARRIED
Councillor Mattson opposed

b) 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

1. Report dated April 10, 2024 from the Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO

The Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO gave a review of the report to Council.

Council and staff discussed operational work plans; reporting of progress and achievements through the annual report; and projects that are financed and achieved that are not necessarily included in the Strategic Plan.

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

C-66-24 THAT the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan be approved as is;

AND THAT consideration of the feedback provided be included as part of the planned annual “check-in” in winter/spring 2025. CARRIED
Councillor Rogers opposed

8.2 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RESOLUTIONS

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson
SECONDED: Councillor Lemon

C-67-24 THAT the 2024-2028 Financial Plan be approved in principle, as amended. CARRIED
Councillor Rogers opposed

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson
SECONDED: Councillor MacKenzie

C-68-24 THAT a tax rates bylaw be prepared for 2024 to implement general municipal tax rates with no change to the property class tax ratios from the prior year except for the Recreation/Non-profit (Class 8), which is to be set at 6.5, and Utilities (Class 2), which is capped at a rate of $40.00 (Scenario D). CARRIED

8.3 OTHER REPORTS

a) Minutes of the Standing Committee Meeting on Housing Legislation held March 15, 2024

Councillor MacKenzie noted that she will not support receipt of the two sets of minutes for two reasons. Firstly, she relayed that she continues to have concerns that the Standing Committee on Housing Legislation is not representative of the Town as evidenced by proposed exemptions in the neighbourhood where two-thirds of the Committee members live. Secondly, she stated that past meetings did not have the expected level of effort made to make them open to the public. Councillor MacKenzie observed that this latter issue has been now addressed going forward.

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the minutes of the Standing Committee Meeting on Housing Legislation held March 15, 2024 be received. CARRIED
Councillor MacKenzie opposed

b) Minutes of the Standing Committee Meeting on Housing held April 5, 2024

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the minutes of the Standing Committee Meeting on Housing held April 5, 2024 be received. CARRIED
Councillor MacKenzie opposed

9. CORRESPONDENCE

9.1 FOR ACTION

a) Letter dated April 10, 2024 from Min. R. Kahlon, Minister of Housing, Re: Notification of the Town of View Royal Selection for Housing Targets Assessment

The Chief Administrative Officer stated that the Ministry of Housing has been informed that the Director of Development Services, L. Taylor, will be the Town’s point person with the Senior Planner, S. Scory, as alternate to attend Housing Targets meetings.

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon
SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the letter dated April 10, 2024 from Min. R. Kahlon, Minister of Housing, Re: Notification of the Town of View Royal Selection for Housing Targets Assessment be received. CARRIED

9.2 FOR INFORMATION

a) Letter dated April 10, 2024 from K. Gilbert, Vancouver Island Film & Media Commission, Re: Support of the Vancouver Island Film & Media Commission

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the letter dated April 10, 2024 from K. Gilbert, Vancouver Island Film & Media Commission, Re: Support of the Vancouver Island Film & Media Commission be received for information. CARRIED

b) Letter dated April 2, 2024 from M. Brown, Chair, PRIMECorp, Board of Directors, Re: PRIMECorp Budget to Municipalities

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the letter dated April 2, 2024 from M. Brown, Chair, PRIMECorp, Board of Directors, Re: PRIMECorp Budget to Municipalities be received for information. CARRIED

c) Letter received March 26, 2024 from R. Reynolds, Juan de Fuca Senior Citizens’ Association, Re: Donation to Christmas Raffle

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the letter received March 26, 2024 from R. Reynolds, Juan de Fuca Senior Citizens’ Association, Re: Donation to Christmas Raffle be received for information. CARRIED

d) Email dated March 25, 2024 from M. Cameron, President, Wild Wise, Re: Bylaw Amendment Surrounding Attractant Securement

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT the email dated March 25, 2024 from M. Cameron, President, Wild Wise, Re: Bylaw Amendment Surrounding Attractant Securement be received for information. CARRIED

10. BYLAWS

a) Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1132, 2024

A Bylaw to Authorize the Financial Plan for the Years 2024-2028

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

THAT Financial Plan Bylaw No. 1132, 2024 be given first, second, and third reading. CARRIED
Councillor Rogers opposed

11. NEW BUSINESS

a) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Councillor Kowalewich

MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson
SECONDED: Councillor Rogers

C-69-24 THAT the “New Business” item regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion from Councillor Kowalewich be tabled to the May 7, 2024 meeting. CARRIED

b) Tree Protection Bylaw – Councillor MacKenzie

Councillor MacKenzie noted she is seeking clarity regarding the Tree Protection Bylaw when there is a request to remove trees on Town property by a developer or resident. She inquired as to who is responsible for costs associated with tree replacement and the choice of tree species replanted.

The Director of Engineering discussed the difference between a developer and resident requesting tree removal and noted who is responsible for the tree replacement costs and species selection.

Council and staff discussed tree protection, the scope of the Urban Forest Strategy vis a vis boulevard trees, the Town’s resident tree planting program, and the tree removal approval process as set out in Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1069.

MOVED BY: Mayor Tobias
SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

C-70-24 THAT a report be provided outlining options to help improve the protection and retention of mature trees on public and private property. CARRIED

c) Police Officers Accompanying Patients to Hospitals – Councillor Lemon

Council discussed the need for a resolution to be sent to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ 2024 convention regarding the use of police resources required under the provisions of section 28 of the Mental Health Act. Councillor Lemon indicated that she will provide such a motion to an upcoming Council meeting.

1. Letter dated April 1, 2021 to former Premier Horgan, Re: Request for Authority and Training for Hospital Security Staff MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon
   SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the letter dated April 1, 2021 from former Premier Horgan, Re: Request for Authority and Training for Hospital Security Staff be received for information. CARRIED

2. Letter dated October 6, 2021 from Min. S. Malcolmson, Re: Use of Police Resources in Hospital Emergency Rooms MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon
   SECONDED: Councillor Mattson

THAT the letter dated October 6, 2021 from Min. S. Malcolmson, Re: Use of Police Resources in Hospital Emergency Rooms be received for information. CARRIED

MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon
SECONDED: Councillor Brown

C-71-24 THAT the Mayor, on behalf of Council, write to Premier Eby, Province of British Columbia, to ask for an amendment to section 28 of the Mental Health Act so that trained hospital staff or Commissionaires relieve police officers of the responsibility of staying with apprehended individuals waiting to see physicians at hospital emergency departments. CARRIED

12. QUESTION PERIOD

13. MOTIONS & NOTICES OF MOTION

14. CLOSED MEETING RESOLUTION

15. RISING REPORT

16. TERMINATION

MOVED BY: Councillor Brown
SECONDED: Councillor MacKenzie

THAT this meeting now terminate.
Time: 8:32 p.m. CARRIED

MAYOR __________________________ CORPORATE OFFICER __________________________