MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING HELD ELECTRONICALLY ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021
Minutes from the previous regular council meeting detailing approvals, reports, and a recommendation for a 4.5% property tax increase for 2021.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL MINUTES OF A COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ELECTRONICALLY ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM ACT MINISTERIAL ORDER NO. M192
PRESENT WERE: Mayor Screech Councillor Kowalewich Councillor Lemon Councillor Mattson – joined by telephone Councillor Rogers
REGRETS:
PRESENT ALSO: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration L. Chase, Director of Development Services J. Rosenberg, Director of Engineering D. Christenson, Director of Finance P. Hurst, Director of Protective Services S. Vella, Manager of Accounting E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer J. Cochrane, Executive Assistant 6 members of the public 0 members of the press
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Screech called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
The 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 move item 8.1 a) to 11. b);
AND THAT the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED
3. MINUTES, RECEIPT & ADOPTION OF
a) Minutes of the Council meeting held February 2, 2021
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the minutes of the Council meeting held February 2, 2021 be adopted as presented. CARRIED
b) Minutes of the Public Hearing held February 2, 2021
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the minutes of the Public Hearing held February 2, 2021 be adopted as presented. CARRIED
c) Minutes of the Special Council meeting held January 26, 2021
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the minutes of the Special Council meeting held January 26, 2021 be adopted as presented. CARRIED
4. MAYOR’S REPORT
The Mayor thanked the Town’s contractor, Victoria Contracting and Municipal Maintenance Corporation, and Town staff for the recent snow clearing.
The Mayor gave an address regarding the Province’s recent purchase of the Thetis Cove property located at 120 Hallowell Road, a copy of which is attached to and forms a part of these minutes.
5. PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD
7. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
8. REPORTS
8.1 STAFF REPORTS
a) 2021-2025 Five Year Financial Plan Deliberations *moved to item 11. b)
- Introduction and Overview
- Non-core Requests
8.2 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE RESOLUTIONS
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
C-14-21 THAT Territorial Acknowledgement Policy No. 0100-052 be approved. CARRIED
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
C-15-21 THAT an amendment to Policy No. 6400-041 – Community Amenity Contributions be approved. CARRIED
Council discussed the possibility of the proposed signal at Island Highway and Atkins Road creating further traffic congestion, installation of a Park and Ride, and access to businesses.
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
C-16-21 THAT the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project be endorsed;
AND THAT the Town of View Royal support the BC Transit Island Highway Priority Project throughout the process as required. CARRIED Councillors Kowalewich and Rogers opposed
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
C-17-21 THAT in response to the Capital Regional District Board’s request to provide regional transportation priorities, the Town of View Royal indicate its 100 points be allocated to the creation of a regional governing body for transportation issues. CARRIED
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
C-18-21 THAT due to the potential increase in pedestrian and vehicle traffic from the Shoreline School expansion, staff ask ICBC to undertake a safety audit at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Island Highway;
AND THAT a traffic study be completed for the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Island Highway. CARRIED
8.3 OTHER REPORTS
9. CORRESPONDENCE
9.1 FOR ACTION
a) Email dated February 9, 2021 from S. Johnstone, Re: Dogs Off-Leash in Knockan Hill Park
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
C-19-21 THAT the email dated February 9, 2021 from S. Johnstone, Re: Dogs Off-leash in Knockan Hill Park and off leash parks in general within the municipality be referred to the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee. CARRIED
b) Letter dated February 4, 2021 from D. Langman, Chair, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, Re: Letter of Support – No-Cost Access to all Prescription Contraception
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT the letter dated February 4, 2021 from D. Langman, Chair, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, Re: Letter of Support – No-Cost Access to all Prescription Contraception be received. CARRIED
c) Letter dated November 30, 2020 from Mayor Cumming, City of Vernon, Re: Letter of Support – No-Cost Access to all Prescription Contraception
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT the letter dated November 30, 2020 from Mayor Cumming, City of Vernon, Re: Letter of Support – No-Cost Access to all Prescription Contraception be received. CARRIED
9.2 FOR INFORMATION
a) Email dated February 2, 2021 from G. Brown, CAO, West Shore Parks and Recreation, Re: 2021-2022 West Shore Parks and Recreation Fees and Charges
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT the email dated February 2, 2021 from G. Brown, CAO, West Shore Parks and Recreation, Re: 2021-2022 West Shore Parks and Recreation Fees and Charges be received for information. CARRIED
b) Letter dated January 29, 2021 from Mayor Haynes, District of Saanich, Re: Boundary Adjustment between District of Saanich and Town of View Royal
Council discussed areas of shared maintenance by Saanich and View Royal such as the intersection of Helmcken Road and Burnside Road West and the stretch of Watkiss Way near Victoria General Hospital respectively.
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT the letter dated January 29, 2021 from Mayor Haynes, District of Saanich, Re: Boundary Adjustment between District of Saanich and Town of View Royal be received for information. CARRIED
Councillor Lemon recused herself from the meeting at 7:23 p.m. as she resides close to 298 Island Highway.
10. BYLAWS
a) Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1060, 2020 A Bylaw to Amend the Town of View Royal Official Community Plan with Respect to the Neighbourhood Centre Land Designation, the Neighbourhood Mixed Use Development Permit Area, and the Land Use Designation of 298 Island Highway
MOVED BY: Councillor Mattson SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 1060, 2020 be given third reading. CARRIED
b) Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 1061, 2020 A Bylaw to Amend the Zoning Bylaw with Respect to Creating the CD-26: Helmcken/Island Highway Comprehensive Development Zone and with Respect to Rezoning 298 Island Highway
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, Amendment Bylaw No. 1061, 2020 be given third reading. CARRIED
Councillor Lemon returned to the meeting at 7:40 p.m.
c) Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1068, 2021 A Bylaw to Amend Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
THAT Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1068, 2021 be adopted. CARRIED
11. NEW BUSINESS
a) Province of BC Acquisition of Thetis Cove Property
- Letter dated February 11, 2021 to Min. Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation from Mayor Screech, Re: Province of BC Acquisition of Thetis Cove Property
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
THAT the letter dated February 11, 2021 to Min. Rankin, Minster of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation from Mayor Screech, Re: Province of BC Acquisition of Thetis Cove Property be received. CARRIED
b) 2021-2025 Five Year Financial Plan Deliberations
- Introduction and Overview The Director of Finance gave an introduction and overview of the 2021-2025 Five Year Financial Plan including the budget schedule and process. She provided an orientation to the budget book and described various budget components. The Director noted the proposed Financial Plan has a 7.3% tax increase indicated at this time.
Council and the Director of Finance discussed the net negative non-market change, properties exempt from property taxes, Casino revenue loss due to the pandemic closure, the 2020 COVID-19 relief draw from surplus, commitments made in 2020, and other changes to expenses.
- Non-core Requests The Committee discussed the non-core budget requests and supported those listed in the draft budget book (Schedule 2.1) with the following exceptions, notations, and amendments:
General Government Services:
- Electronic access to archives repository (N-033) – fund project from surplus for 2021 and 2022 and from taxation for subsequent years; and
- Investment program development (N-066) – defer project to 2022.
12. QUESTION PERIOD
13. MOTIONS & NOTICES OF MOTION
14. CLOSED MEETING RESOLUTION
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Lemon
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)(a) – appointment and (e) – land. CARRIED
15. RISING REPORT
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Mattson
C-20-21 a) Advisory Committee Appointments
From the February 16, 2021 In-Camera meeting:
MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED: Councillor Kowalewich
THAT Mateo Ayala and Kyle Porter be appointed, and Janet Baker, Katy Fabris, Dick Faulks, Adam Flint and Hari Sharma be reappointed to the Community Development Advisory Committee from March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2023;
AND THAT Marc Cittone be appointed, and Ian Brown and Ryan Painter be reappointed to the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee from March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2023. CARRIED
16. TERMINATION
MOVED BY: Councillor Lemon SECONDED: Councillor Rogers
THAT this meeting now terminate. Time: 9:15 p.m. CARRIED
MAYOR CORPORATE OFFICER
Mayor’s Report
February 16, 2021
I have been asked by a few residents in recent days about the Thetis Cove property and the Province’s announcement that they have purchased the land. Many residents, especially those living in Aldersmith are naturally concerned.
If residents are concerned about the lack of any consultation with them, I encourage them to take that up with the Province. The Town of View Royal was not informed of the purchase until well after the closing date.
However, in discussions with the Province since, and with Chief Rob Thomas from the Esquimalt Nation, it is clear that discussions will take place in the future. The land will not be transferred to the Nation for approximately three to five years and during that time all parties will be involved to see that all interests are protected. I have received assurance from the Nation that they have no interest in any industrial uses of the lands but would prefer to see housing for their members along with the possibility of economic development. I have also received assurances from the Province that our resident’s very genuine concerns about their direct neighbourhood will be heard.
Moving forward we will all benefit from working together with the Nation and the Province in a collaborative manner. Our Council and our staff will work to ensure that the Town’s interests are protected.
The Esquimalt Nation and the Town of View Royal are direct neighbours and friends and by working together in a mutually respectful and progressive way we will ensure that both communities’ interests are met throughout the upcoming process.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you would like to discuss further. As more information is made available, we will ensure that it is shared with the community.
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