MINUTES OF THE PARKS, RECREATION & ENVIRONMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING - March 28, 2023

MINUTES OF THE PARKS, RECREATION & ENVIRONMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ELECTRONICALLY ON TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023

PRESENT:

• R. Bickel
• I. Brown
• L. Jeaurond
• E. Kuiack
• J. Snyder
• Councillor Kowalewich, Council Liaison
• Councillor McKenzie, Council Liaison

ALSO PRESENT:

• I. Leung, Director of Engineering
• L. Taylor, Director of Development Services
• J. Paterson, Recording Secretary

0 members of the public 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: R. Bickel SECONDED BY: L. Jeaurond

THAT the agenda be amended to include items 9(c-e);

AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED

3. MINUTES, RECEIPT & ADOPTION OF

a) Minutes of the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee meeting held January 24, 2023

MOVED BY: L. Jeaurond SECONDED BY: E. Kuiack

THAT the minutes of the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee meeting held January 24, 2023 be adopted. CARRIED

4. CHAIR’S REPORT

5. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

6. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

a) Step Code Update

MOVED BY: I. Brown SECONDED BY: J. Snyder

THAT the memorandum dated March 21, 2023 from the Director of Development Services titled “Step Code Update” be received. CARRIED

7. REPORTS

7.1 STAFF REPORTS

7.2 COUNCIL REPORTS

a) Minutes of the Council meetings held December 13, 2022 to March 7, 2023

MOVED BY: E. Kuiack SECONDED BY: J. Snyder

THAT the minutes of the Council meetings held December 13, 2022 to March 7, 2023 be received. CARRIED

8. CORRESPONDENCE

9. NEW BUSINESS

a) View Royal’s Response to Zero Carbon Step Code

The Director of Development Services updated the Committee on the Town’s commitment to the BC Energy Step Code noting the Town has adopted BC Energy Step Code 3 for all Part 9 Buildings and Step Code 2 for Part 3 Buildings. Staff will be providing updates to Council with the next steps in terms of Zero Carbon Step Code as the Province will be implementing this in May 2023.

The Committee discussed accelerating to Step Code 5, low carbon and zero carbon climate action goals, cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and timelines for implementing step codes.

MOVED BY: I. Brown SECONDED BY: R. Bickel

PREAC-03-23 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that the Town mandate the BC Energy Low Carbon Step Code by the end of 2023 and the BC Energy Zero Carbon Step Code by the end of 2024. CARRIED

b) Tree Canopy Protection

The Committee discussed updates to the Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1069, specifically:

• protection, growth, expansion, and enhancement of the tree canopy;
• mature trees;
• resident tree planting program;
• watering bags and schedule;
• protection of critical tree root zone on property boundaries of development sites;
• increasing setbacks;
• inclusion of tree protection in the Town’s Zoning Bylaw;
• monitoring period;
• preservation of vegetation and natural habitat;
• working around existing trees and wildlife corridors; and
• use of the Tree Protection Bylaw as a communication tool with developers.

MOVED BY: L. Jeaurond SECONDED BY: R. Bickel

PREAC-04-23 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that staff be asked to provide recommendations on how to further strengthen Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1069 to protect and grow the tree canopy, conserve natural habitat, and incorporate local best practices as is done in the District of Central Saanich’s tree protection bylaw. CARRIED

MOVED BY: L. Jeaurond SECONDED BY: J. Snyder

PREAC-05-23 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that staff prepare a report to update Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014 to ensure the tree canopy is enhanced. CARRIED

c) Traffic Speeds

The Committee discussed the draft Active Transportation Network Plan and the proposed lowering of speed limits from fifty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour in local neighbourhoods as this would assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

MOVED BY: L. Jeaurond SECONDED BY: J. Snyder

PREAC-06-23 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that a 30 kilometre per hour speed limit be applied to all View Royal neighbourhood roads. CARRIED

d) Little Road Property

The Committee discussed maintenance of Little Road Park, noting mowing in April destroys natural habitat and pollinators before they have a chance to successfully reproduce. The Director of Engineering stated that mowing at a later date creates overgrowth issues and could also cause a fire hazard.

MOVED BY: L. Jeaurond SECONDED BY: E. Kuiack

PREAC-07-23 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that mowing and haying procedures cease at the Little Road Park property until the month of June to protect natural habitat and pollinators. CARRIED

e) Class Action Lawsuit Sue Big Oil

The Chair advised that the topic of a class action lawsuit to sue the big oil companies around the world would be coming forward to a future advisory committee meeting. He noted this is a movement started by West Coast Environmental Law that would see British Columbian municipalities sue oil companies for climate related impacts. He suggested Committee members visit the suebigoil.ca website for further information.

10. CLOSED MEETING RESOLUTION

11. TERMINATION

MOVED BY: L. Jeaurond SECONDED BY: E. Kuiack

THAT this meeting now terminate at 8:34 p.m. CARRIED