COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD

Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Minutes of the meeting of the Comox Valley Regional District Board of Directors held on May 26, 2020 in the Civic Room of the Comox Valley Regional District offices located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC commencing at 4:06 pm.
 
 
MINUTES
     
 
Present:
Chair:J. KetlerVillage of Cumberland
Vice-Chair:A. HamirLazo North (Area B)
Directors:D. ArbourBaynes Sound-Denman/Hornby Islands (Area A)
 W. Cole-HamiltonCity of Courtenay
 D. FrischCity of Courtenay
 K. GrantTown of Comox
 E. GrievePuntledge/Black Creek (Area C)
 D. HillianCity of Courtenay
 W. MorinCity of Courtenay
 M. SwiftTown of Comox
 B. LeighOyster Bay – Buttle Lake (Area D)
Staff:R. DysonChief Administrative Officer
 J. WarrenDeputy Chief Administrative Officer
 B. DunlopCorporate Financial Officer
 D. DeMarzoGeneral Manager of Community Services
 J. MartensGeneral Manager of Corporate Services
 M. RuttenGeneral Manager of Engineering Services
 S. SmithGeneral Manager of Planning and Development Services
 L. DennisManager of Legislative Services
 
   
ATTENDANCE:
With the exception of Directors Grant and Leigh, all board members participated in the meeting by electronic means.
 
 
RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL TERRITORIES:
The Chair acknowledged that the meeting was being held on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation and read the following article from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) available online at: www.un.org/

Article 10: Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return.
 
 
IN-CAMERA MEETING:
A. Hamir/D. Frisch: THAT the committee adjourn to an in-camera session pursuant to the following sub-sections of section 90 of the Community Charter:

90(1)(c) Labour relations or employee negotiations; and,

90(1)(e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the committee/board considers that disclosure might reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality.

AND FINALLY THAT the in-camera portion convene immediately following the open portion of the meeting.
208Carried
 
ADOPTION OF MINUTES:
W. Morin/D. Arbour: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated May 12, 2020 be adopted. [Item
208Carried
 
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES:
D. Frisch/A. Hamir: THAT notice of the following resolution from the February 25, 2020 CVRD Board in-camera meeting being publicly released, be received:
 
 
"THAT the board appoint Director Hillian (representative) and Mr. Rod Nichol (alternate) in an advisory role and as a liaison between the board and the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation for the K’ómoks First Nation treaty negotiation process for the remainder of the 2018-2022 term of office;

AND FURTHER THAT remuneration and expenses be paid in accordance with Comox Valley Regional District Bylaw No. 236 being “Comox Valley Regional District Remuneration and Expenses Bylaw 2012, provided remuneration and/or expenses are not paid directly by the external organization;

AND FURTHER THAT Rod Nichol be paid an honorarium of $160 and be reimbursed for associated expenses incurred for formal meetings attended;

AND FINALLY THAT the board rise and report on this resolution."
208Carried
 
REPORTS:
REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY TECHNICAL ADVISORY
 
 
D. Frisch/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT the Regional Growth Strategy Technical Advisory minutes dated April 8, 2020 be received. [Item
208Carried
 
BLACK CREEK - OYSTER BAY SERVICES COMMITTEE - MAY 11, 2002
 
 
B. Leigh/E. Grieve: THAT the Black Creek - Oyster Bay Services Committee minutes dated May 11, 2020 be received. [Item
208Carried
 
B. Leigh/E. Grieve: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District request the Strathcona Regional District Board enable the necessary permits to be approved to allow for the installation of the new water supply well within the Oyster River Nature Park to advance;

AND FURTHER THAT once Strathcona Regional District support for installation of the new water supply well project is received, the Comox Valley Regional District will undertake an environmental flow needs assessment in parallel with installation of the new water supply well to be complete prior to March 31, 2021.
209Carried
 
B. Leigh/E. Grieve: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District work with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to confirm the terms of reference for an environmental flow needs assessment of the Oyster River;

AND FINALLY THAT an application to the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program for an environmental flow needs assessment of the Oyster River be completed.
209Carried
 
Director Leigh left the meeting at 4:15 pm.
 
 
ELECTORAL AREAS SERVICES COMMITTEE - MAY 11, 2020
 
 
E. Grieve/A. Hamir: THAT the Electoral Areas Services Committee minutes dated May 11, 2020 be received. [Item
208Carried
 
D. Arbour/A. Hamir: THAT the following recommendations be adopted by general consent:
 
 
THAT the board approve Development Permit DP 3B 20 (Storey / Dodd) on property described as Lot B, District Lot 239, Comox District, Plan 29999, PID 001-327-577 (1782 Ryan Road East) for the development of two buildings on a commercial lot;

AND FINALLY THAT the Corporate Legislative Officer be authorized to execute the permit.
 
 
THAT the board approve Development Permit DP 4B 20 (Mountain Ridge Tree Farms Ltd) relating to the subdivision of the property described as Lot A, Section 25, Comox District, Plan 9848, PID 003-921-336 (5228 Island Highway North);

AND FINALLY THAT the Corporate Legislative Officer be authorized to execute the permit.
 
 
THAT the board approve the Development Permit DP 26C 19 (1069585 BC Ltd.) on property described as Lot 1, District Lot 221, Comox District, Plan VIP76726, PID 025-897-977 (9022 Clarkson Avenue) for the development of 29 tourist accommodation units and one residential unit;

AND FINALLY THAT upon the receipt of a landscaping security deposit of $173,787.50, the Corporate Legislative Officer be authorized to execute the permit.
208 and 213Carried
 
D. Arbour/D. Hillian: THAT, in order to further assess mandatory maintenance program options, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) submit a formal request to Island Health for a data sharing agreement enabling CVRD access to complete Sewerage System Regulation filings held by Island Health.
208Carried
 
D. Arbour/E. Grieve: THAT the Public Engagement Plan for Comox Valley Regional District roadside garbage, recycling and yard waste collection services presented in the staff report dated May 7, 2020, be approved and implemented.

AND FURTHER THAT staff report back to the Electoral Area Services Committee following public engagement to present the results.
208Carried
 
D. Arbour/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT staff be directed to suspend exploring river access swimming opportunities along the Tsolum River at this time.
209CarriedNAY: E. Grieve
 
D. Arbour/A. Hamir: THAT staff be directed to postpone the delivery of the Lazo Road pathway project until 2021 except for the portion of the trail over the Lazo Marsh to see if design and build synergies exist with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's amphibian fencing project.
209Carried
 
COMOX VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION - MAY 12, 2020
 
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/D. Frisch: THAT the Comox Valley Sewage Commission minutes dated May 12, 2020 be received. [Item
208Carried
 
COMOX VALLEY WATER COMMITTEE - MAY 12, 2020
 
 
D. Arbour/W. Morin: THAT the Comox Valley Water Committee minutes dated May 12, 2020 be received. [Item
208Carried
 
COMOX VALLEY SPORTS COMMISSION - MAY 12, 2020
 
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/D. Hillian: THAT the Comox Valley Sports Commission minutes dated May 12, 2020 be received. [Item
208Carried
 
2020 GRANTS-IN-AID
 
 
D. Arbour/A. Hamir: THAT the report dated May 15, 2020 from Directors Arbour, Hamir and Grieve to bring forward Grant-in-Aid (GIA) funding allocations, be received. [Item
208Carried
 
K. Douville, Manager of Financial Planning, provided an overview of the staff report regarding 2020 Grant-in-Aid funding allocations.
 
 
A. Hamir/D. Arbour: THAT the Grants-in-Aid on Schedule A of the directors report dated May 15, 2020, payable from the respective area(s) indicated, be approved.
208Carried
 
CVRD SAFETY RE-OPENING PLAN
 
 
D. Hillian/E. Grieve: THAT the report dated May 22, 2020 regarding a policy statement that enables Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) facility re-openings that supports the safety, health, and wellbeing of both the general public and CVRD employees and is aligned with provincial authorities including WorkSafe BC, BC Centre for Disease Control, and the Ministry of Health for BC be received. [Item
208Carried
 
D. Hillian/W. Morin: WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the CVRD’s ability to effectively deliver programs and services and has resulted in the closure of many CVRD facilities;

AND WHEREAS the CVRD is committed to the safety, health, and wellbeing of its employees and the general public;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Comox Valley Regional District facilities, which were closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, be re-opened in alignment with recommendations, advice, and guidelines issued by WorkSafe BC, the BC Centre for Disease Control, and the Ministry of Health for BC;

AND FURTHER THAT any re-openings be informed by safety plans, safe work procedures, signage, and internal and external communication to promote public safety and responsible operations;

AND FINALLY THAT the CVRD remain responsive to changing conditions associated with COVID-19 such that future facility closures occur where required.
208Carried
 
BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS:
E. Grieve/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT Bylaw No. 609 being “Rural Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 520, 2019, Amendment No. 4” be given third reading as amended. [Item
208 and 213Carried
 
D. Hillian/E. Grieve: THAT Bylaw No. 615 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 615, 2020" be given first and second readings concurrently. [Item
210Carried
 
D. Hillian/E. Grieve: THAT Bylaw No. 615 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 615, 2020" be given third reading.
210Carried
 
D. Hillian/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT Bylaw No. 615 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 615, 2020" be adopted.
210Carried
 
E. Grieve/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT Bylaw No. 616 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 616, 2020" be given first and second readings concurrently. [Item
210Carried
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/E. Grieve: THAT Bylaw No. 616 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 616, 2020" be given third reading.
210Carried
 
D. Frisch/W. Morin: THAT Bylaw No. 616 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 616, 2020" be adopted.
210Carried
 
ADDENDUM - UPON APPROVAL OF THE BOARD:
D. Hillian/D. Frisch: THAT the addendum be considered.
208Carried
 
CHANGES TO CANNABIS RETAIL REGULATIONS
 
 
D. Frisch/A. Hamir: THAT the correspondence dated May 25, 2020 from Chair Ketler regarding support for changes to cannabis retail regulations be received. [Item
208Carried
 
A. Hamir/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT the board write to the Province of British Columbia to request regulatory changes to enable regulated cannabis retailers to provide online payment and direct delivery service options.
208CarriedNAY: D. Arbour
 
RECRUITMENT ANALYSIS – COVID-19
 
 
D. Arbour/E. Grieve: THAT the report dated May 26, 2020 regarding the current hiring freeze in response to the COVID-19 pandemic be received. [Item
208Carried
 
ADJOURN TO IN-CAMERA:
The board adjourned to its in-camera session at 5:07 pm.
 
 
RISE AND REPORT:
The board rose from its restricted in-camera session at 7:54 pm and reported as follows:
 
 
"THAT the Exempt Staff Compensation Policy be approved;

AND FINALLY THAT the board rise and report on this resolution and the approved policy."
[Item
 
 
TERMINATION:
D. Arbour/K. Grant: THAT the meeting terminate.
208Carried
 
Time: 7:54 pm.
 
 
 Confirmed this 16th day of June, 2020:


____________________________________
Jesse Ketler
Chair
 
Certified Correct and Recorded By:


____________________________________
Lisa Dennis
Manager of Legislative Services
Meeting Web Page