COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Minutes of the meeting of the Comox Valley Regional District Board of Directors held on January 12, 2021 in the Civic Room of the Comox Valley Regional District offices located at 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay, BC commencing at 4:00 pm.
 
 
MINUTES
     
 
Present:
Chair:J. KetlerVillage of Cumberland
Vice-Chair:A. HamirLazo North (Area B)
Directors:W. Cole-HamiltonCity of Courtenay
 K. GrantTown of Comox
 E. GrievePuntledge/Black Creek (Area C)
 D. HillianCity of Courtenay
 M. McCollumCity of Courtenay
 W. MorinCity of Courtenay
 M. SwiftTown of Comox
Alt. Director:L. FlawseBaynes Sound-Denman/Hornby Islands (Area A)
Staff:R. DysonChief Administrative Officer
 J. WarrenDeputy Chief Administrative Officer
 M. FoortChief 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 Chair Ketler, Director Grant, and Alternate Director Flawse, all directors were in attendance via electronic means.
 
 
Also in attendance were K. Douville, A. Mullaly, M. Zbarsky, and J. Zbinden, CVRD.
 
 
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 23: Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In particular, indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing and other economic and social programmes affecting them and, as far as possible, to administer such programmes through their own institutions.
 
 
IN-CAMERA MEETING:
K. Grant/A. Hamir: THAT the board 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:
K. Grant/W. Morin: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District Board minutes dated December 15, 2020 be adopted.
208Carried
 
PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS:
THE MINISTRY OF FORESTS, LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT - GYPSY MOTH AERIAL SPRAY
 
 
K. Grant/A. Hamir: THAT the presentation from Tim Ebata and Babita Bains, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (MFLNRORD), regarding an aerial spray planned for spring 2021 to eradicate the gypsy moth population in the Comox Valley be received.
208Carried
 
REPORTS:
COMOX VALLEY EMERGENCY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
 
 
K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the Comox Valley Emergency Program Administrative Committee minutes dated December 2, 2020 be received.
208Carried
 
COMOX VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - MUNCIPAL AND REGIONAL DISTRICT TAX (MRDT) PROGRAM
 
 
E. Grieve/M. McCollum: THAT the presentation from Bill Anglin, Chair, Destination Marketing Advisory Committee, and Deana Simkin, Chair, Comox Valley Economic Development Society, regarding the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Program be received.
208Carried
 
CVEDS - 2019 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITOR’S REPORT
 
 
K. Grant/M. McCollum: THAT the report dated January 6, 2021 regarding the 2019 financial statements of the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS) for the year ended December 31, 2019 be received.
209Carried
 
Cory Vanderhorst, MNP LLP, provided information regarding the Comox Valley Economic Development Society 2019 financial statements and auditors report.
 
 
K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT the financial statements of the Comox Valley Economic Development Society for the year ended December 31, 2019 be received
209Carried
 
AUDIT SERVICE PLAN FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020
 
 
D. Hillian/M. McCollum: THAT the report dated January 6, 2020 regarding the 2020 audit service plan for the Comox Valley Regional District as submitted by the audit firm of MNP LLP be received.
208Carried
 
Cory Vanderhorst, MNP LLP, provided information regarding the Comox Valley Regional District audit plan.
 
 
COMOX VALLEY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM BUDGET AMENDMENT – FUNCTION 300
 
 
K. Grant/L. Flawse: THAT the report dated January 7, 2020 regarding an amendment to the 2020-2024 capital financial plan for the Comox Valley Water Supply System Service (Function 300) to reallocate the majority of the budgets for the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project (#1035) for 2021 through 2023 into 2020, to ensure sufficient funds are available to implement final phases of the project be received.
Bylaw 1783Carried
 
D. Hillian/A. Hamir: THAT the 2020-2024 financial plan and capital expenditure program for the Comox Valley Water Supply System Service, Function 300, be amended by reallocating the approved water infrastructure expenditures in 2021 – 2023 for the Comox Valley Water Treatment Project (#1035), totalling $36,246,367, into the 2020 fiscal year. These costs will be funded by a combination of capital grants ($5,755,087), capital works reserves ($16,137,744) and debt ($14,353,536).
Bylaw 1783Carried
 
CVIS GRANT APPLICATION PROPOSAL – SPORTS CENTRE UPGRADES
 
 
K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT the verbal update from M. Foort, Chief Financial Officer, regarding the report dated January 8, 2021 which was presented to the Comox Valley Recreation Commission at its January 12, 2021 meeting be received.
208Carried
 
The meeting recessed at 6:03 pm and resumed at 6:13 pm.
 
 
INDIGENOUS RELATIONS 2021
 
 
K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT the report dated January 7, 2021 regarding activities planned for 2021 through the Indigenous Relations Framework and to recommend the board adopt a statement of reconciliation to continue guiding the CVRD’s work with Indigenous peoples be received.
208Carried
 
J. Warren Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, provided an overview of the staff report activities planned for 2021 through the Indigenous Relations Framework.
 
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/K. Grant: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board adopt the Statement of Reconciliation attached as Appendix A to the staff report dated January 7, 2021, recognizing that, in part, the CVRD is committed to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and acknowledging that a commitment alone is not enough and that action is needed to show that the CVRD is taking measurable steps towards a better relationship with Indigenous Peoples.
208
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/D. Hillian: THAT the motion be amended to include reference to building relationships with all First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
208Carried
 
The vote was taken on the main motion, as amended, as follows:
 
 
THAT the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board adopt the Statement of Reconciliation attached as Appendix A to the staff report dated January 7, 2021, including a broadened reference to building relationships with all First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples; and recognizing that, in part, the CVRD is committed to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and acknowledging that a commitment alone is not enough and that action is needed to show that the CVRD is taking measurable steps towards a better relationship with Indigenous Peoples.
208Carried
 
K. Grant/A. Hamir: THAT the activities planned for 2021 through the Indigenous Relations Framework, as described in the staff report dated January 7, 2021 be approved.
208Carried
 
K. Grant/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT the Comox Valley Regional District encourage the Federal Government to follow through with adopting Bill C-15, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
208Carried
 
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
 
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/M. McCollum: THAT the report dated January 8, 2021 regarding updates on the Comox Valley transit service and information related to Comox Valley-wide transportation initiatives be received.
209Carried
 
M. Zbarsky, Manager of Transit and Facilities, and A. Mullaly, Senior Manager of Sustainability and RGS, provided an overview of the staff report regarding updates on the Comox Valley transit service and information related to Comox Valley-wide transportation initiatives.
 
 
D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT the 2020/2021 Annual Operating Agreement for the Comox Valley Regional Transit service be approved.
209Carried
 
W. Cole-Hamilton/M. McCollum: THAT a 3,000 hour conventional expansion be approved to address the impacts of the 5th Street Bridge rehabilitation project in 2021 and for increased frequency on route number one or as directed by the board in subsequent years.
209Carried
 
D. Hillian/L. Flawse: THAT a 600 hour paratransit expansion be approved for September 2021 to address service gaps in the Back Road area.
209Carried
 
M. McCollum/W. Cole-Hamilton: THAT staff be authorized to develop a series of board workshops in 2021 focused on regional transportation and regional climate action priorities.
209Carried
 
BYLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS:
E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 635 being “Comox Valley Electoral Areas Animal Control Bylaw No. 100, 2010, Amendment No. 2” be given first and second readings concurrently.
209Carried
 
E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 635 being “Comox Valley Electoral Areas Animal Control Bylaw No. 100, 2010, Amendment No. 2” be read a third time.
209Carried
 
E. Grieve/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 635 being "Comox Valley Electoral Areas Animal Control Bylaw No. 100, 2010, Amendment No. 2" be adopted.
209Carried
 
NOTE: adoption of the above bylaw received a two-thirds affirmative vote.
 
 
D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 630 being “Jackson Drive Sewer Service Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 2749, 2005, Amendment No. 5” be given first and second readings concurrently.
207Carried
 
D. Hillian/K. Grant: THAT Bylaw No. 630 being “Jackson Drive Sewer Service Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 2749, 2005, Amendment No. 5” be read a third time.
207Carried
 
K. Grant/M. McCollum: THAT Bylaw No. 631 being “King Coho Wastewater Service Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 563, 2018, Amendment No. 2” be given first and second readings concurrently.
207Carried
 
K. Grant/L. Flawse: THAT Bylaw No. 631 being “King Coho Wastewater Service Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 563, 2018, Amendment No. 2” be read a third time.
207Carried
 
K. Grant/D. Hillian: THAT Bylaw No. 633 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 633, 2021" be adopted.
208Carried
 
D. Hillian/E. Grieve: THAT Bylaw No. 634 being "Comox Valley Regional District Security Issuing Bylaw No. 634, 2021" be adopted.
208Carried
 
ADJOURN TO IN-CAMERA:
The board adjourned to its in-camera session at 7:07 pm.
 
 
RISE AND REPORT:
The board rose from its restricted in-camera session at 7:53 pm.
 
 
TERMINATION:
K. Grant/E. Grieve: THAT the meeting terminate.
208Carried
 
Time: 7:53 pm.
 
 
 Confirmed this 26th day of, January, 2021:

____________________________________
Jesse Ketler
Chair
 
Certified Correct and Recorded By:

____________________________________
Lisa Dennis
Manager of Legislative Services
Meeting Web Page