NOTICE OF MEETING
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE


Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Boardroom, 550B Comox Road, Courtenay, B.C. commencing at 4:00 p.m.

The purpose of this meeting is for committee members to consider the matters included on the agenda below. The chair of the committee will preside over the meeting according to the CVRD procedure bylaw. This meeting is not meant for general public input. If members of the public wish to speak at a meeting, they should contact the CVRD legislative services department to request to appear as a delegation.

In the event of an emergency the public gathering place is the parking lot outside the boardroom.
 
 
AGENDA
 
    Section Who Votes How Vote Counted
   
A. DELEGATIONS:
1) SAFEHAVEN: REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP GROUP
 
Gary Stevenson, Safehaven: Refugee Sponsorship Group, to present information regarding a request to waive transit fees for refugees in the first year of settlement in the Comox Valley.
 
NOTE: Transit – No Free Bus Passes policy is attached for reference.
 
B. MANAGEMENT REPORT:
C. REPORTS:
1) COMOX VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY (CVEDS) STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, QUARTER 1 UPDATE
 
Lara Greasley, Comox Valley Economic Development Society, to present an update on CVEDS strategic priorities.
 
2) AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT – NEXT STEPS
 
Report dated May 10, 2017 regarding next steps for air quality management for receipt.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
Recommendation # 1:
 
THAT a three year (2017-2019) air quality education and incentive program be implemented as described in the staff report dated May 10, 2017, funded with the Island Health Community Wellness grant received by the Comox Valley Regional District in 2016.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
Recommendation # 2:
 
THAT a letter be sent to the provincial Ministry of Environment expressing the Comox Valley Regional District board’s support for the proposed changes to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
3) COMOX VALLEY CARBON NEUTRAL UPDATE
 
Report dated May 9, 2017 regarding the results of the 2016 Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) corporate emissions inventory, and some proposed emissions reductions activities for receipt.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
Recommendation # 1:
 
THAT the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) achieve carbon neutrality for 2016 with the purchase of 1919 metric tonnes of verified offsets from the Dempsey Ridge wind farm project at a cost of $1.50 USD/MT, totalling approximately $4,000 CAD;

AND FURTHER THAT remaining 2016 carbon offset funds be allocated to a region-wide home energy efficiency program ($22,000) and an update to the 2011 CVRD corporate energy plan ($20,000).
208All1 person/1 vote
 
Recommendation # 2:
 
THAT $25,720 in 2015 remaining carbon offset funding be re-allocated to renewable energy infrastructure projects.

AND FURTHER THAT staff be directed to proceed with a suitability assessment of select CVRD facilities for installation of solar photovoltaic panels, and subsequent installation on the best ranked facility.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
4) FREE TRANSIT UP RYAN ROAD HILL
 
Report dated May 1, 2017 regarding an update on analysis being conducted relating to the concept of providing free transit up Ryan Road hill to those with certain accessibility issues for receipt.
209AllWeighted
 
5) UNION BAY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CONVERSION PROCESS
 
Report dated May 2, 2017 regarding a description of the process and roles involved in an improvement district restructure, in response to the March 2017 delegation from Union Bay residents for receipt.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
Recommendation:
 
THAT a letter be provided to the Union Bay residents, who formed the March 2017 delegation to the Comox Valley Regional District, to provide information to them in their request to pursue the conversion and restructure process of an improvement district to a regional district service.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
D. NEW BUSINESS:
1) ISLAND CORRIDOR FOUNDATION
 
Correspondence dated April 20, 2017 from Director Sproule regarding the railway right of way and removal of old infrastructure from Parksville to Courtenay for receipt.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
Requested Action:
 
THAT a letter be sent to the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) requesting a report on:

• The viability of removing the ties and rails from Parksville to Courtenay and converting the right-of-way to a cycling and walking trail on an interim basis until such time as the right-of-way is needed for rail operations;

• Any concerns the ICF would have with the removal of the old infrastructure from Parksville to Courtenay to allow for a trail on an interim basis.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
E. ADDENDUM - UPON APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE:
F. MEDIA QUESTIONS:
G. IN-CAMERA:
Recommendation:
 
THAT the committee adjourn to an in-camera session pursuant to the following sub-section of section 90 of the Community Charter:

90(1)(b) Personal information about an identifiable individual who is being considered for a municipal award or honour, or who has offered to provide a gift to the regional district on condition of anonymity.
208All1 person/1 vote
 
H. TERMINATION:
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