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You are now live. All right, Corn being present. I'd

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like to call this Council Meaning to Order. Our first

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item of Business is a resolution to close the meeting

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of the Public. On the basis of the following sections,

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the Community Charter, Section 91A91E91G and 91i. What someone like

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to move the staff recommendation by Councillor Hog, second to

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buy Councillor Callio, any discussion, call the question all in

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favor. And oppose, and oppose motion carries.

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Mr. Mayor, you are now live. All right with the

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corn being present. I'd like to resume our regular Council

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Meaning that we'd like to start by acknowledging we are

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gathered here today on the traditionals of the Quatsum people.

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So our first Item of Business here is approval of

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the consent agenda and I'm going to ask Council, are

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there any items you would like move to new business

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for discussion. I'm going to ask that we move item

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4. 2. 7, the letter from the suminose marsh society

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to new business. All right, then would someone like to

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move, sorry. That Council proved the consent agenda and the

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recommendations contain therein? Moved by Councillor Caliosik, my Council Manhouse,

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any discussion, called the question all in favor. An opposed,

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unapposed motion carries. We're now going to move on to

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the approval of the Meeting Agenda. So we have recommendation

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the agenda be adopted as circulated with someone like to

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move that. Councillor Calio, seconded by Councillor Estash, any discussion.

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I'll call the question all in favor. And opposed, an

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opposed motion carries. We'll now move on to the Maris

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Report. I'll keep this brief as in. A lot ahead

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of us here. So I like to give Council and

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members the Public and update on various events and meetings

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I have held over the last two weeks. So I

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had the pleasure touring the Honey Belane bees farm at

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the Honey B lane B's at Quail Grove Farm, which

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is located just off Lake Road. With owners Jeanette and

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Tom Chudley along with several local farmers. We're at a

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chance to learn about beekeeping and the port and roll

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they play in agriculture and food security. There's a value

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opportunity, sorry, a valuable opportunity to hear directly from local

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farmers about the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in our

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municipality. I just say to Council that Jeanette and Tom

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would be happy to welcome any of you for a

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tour of their property as well if you're interested. I

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was also honoured to join the Seek Temple on Sherman

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Road for a celebration marking 41 years since it's establishment,

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including the Nishan Shahib Seva and the completion of the

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Sri Akhan path Sahib G and the Cathan Courtan. It's

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great to see Councillor Manhouse and Councillor Justice there as

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well. And I'm grateful for the congregations continue commitment to

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SEVA. Which is sharing equality, compassion and helping those in

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need in our community. Also recently attended the official opening

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of North Couch and this new 18 whole disc golf

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course at the Floor Lake, right near the Fort Lake

53
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Arena, which was developed on underutilized municipal land and partnership

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with the Couchmelley Disc Golf club and various community partners.

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Want to recognise councillors, Estash and Justice. We're there to

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attend the event. The course is already attracted more than

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1, 100 players who have completed over 5, 500 rounds

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of disc golf, demonstrating its appeal to both residents and

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visitors. And from what we heard from some of the

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disc golf enthusiasts of the bent, this is one of

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the best courses they've ever played on and many of

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these folks have travelled right around North America participating in

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disc golf. Last week I also travelled to Powell River

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to meet with their mayor Ron Waznov and tour the

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former paper mill site and learn about their experiences following

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the mills permanent closure and the redevelopment of the property.

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We also met with the CEO of the Cranberry Group.

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They're in the process of purchasing about They're currently demolishing

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some of the structures, which having worked in a Pult

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and Paper Mill. It's sad to see these structures and

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infrastructure move, recognising that so much work went into building

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them in the first place. However, the cranberry group is

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anticipating the four or five anchor tenants over the next

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year. And perhaps upwards of 1, 000 jobs on the

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site, which would obviously be a great win for Powell

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River and hopefully we see something similar, transpire here with

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the Crofton Millsite. Which you'll note is larger and has

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certain advantages that the Powell River site may not have.

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While on Powell River, I also had a chance to

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visit two of their new treatment and recovery facilities that

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are operated by MIGLAT recovery and partnership with Together We

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Can, who is Council Nose is currently working with our

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municipality in recent the OpenDop a facility not far from

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here. These two facilities provide 24 beds for people struggling

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with addiction. And, um, they did initially open them without

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provincial or health authority funding, but have since been successful

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in securing funding through Vancouver Coastal Health. And, uh, we

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were hopeful to get similar funding here in North Couch

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and for the existing gathery canned facility. What they did

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advise during the tour was that in some cases you

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got to get these facilities up and running, demonstrate that

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they're going to be a success. And that puts you

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never position to secure funding either from Island Health of

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the Province. And finally, on Monday, I joined members of

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the community in Crofton to mark international overdose awareness day.

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Remember those who have lost their lives to the drug

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toxic drug crisis is honoured to be part of the

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event, which is organised by local resident Chad Cossen. Remember

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his sister Jenny who tragically passed away eight years ago.

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The event began in Winnipeg a number of years ago,

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but has since moved out here to the Couch and

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Valley. And yeah, it was a way to bring together,

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uh, many people from our community of all walks of

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life who have been impacted by this crisis. And that

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concludes my mayor's report. We're now going to move on

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to Public Input and we have five, uh, five individuals

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assigned up for Public Input. So for anyone who hasn't

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participated in this, uh, process before, we allow five speakers

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up to three minutes each to speak on an item

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on the agenda. So first I'm going to, uh, welcome

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Robert Bunyan, who is participating online, Mr. Bunyan, if you

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could state your address. And again, it's three minutes you

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have to provide your input.

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Mr. Bunyan, can you hear us? And here you. Can

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you hear me, sir? Yep. I can hear you. Please

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continue. Oh, perfect. Uh, uh, yes, my name is Robert

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Bunyan. I live on the mainland and grew up in

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Chemanus. I'd like to start off by saying good evening

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to you, the mayor and Council members. Um, I wanted

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to start off by acknowledging Mr. Mason's report on the

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legacy Memorial Bench Program. And I can appreciate that Council

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has a lot to digest before making any recommendations. I

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had a conversation with Mr. Mason Mason on Tuesday, September

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1st regarding the maintenance of my bench. That sits in

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Waterwheel Park shamanis. He confirmed me that the work had

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been done and completed in the fall of 2025. I

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asked him what the cost was. He was only able

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to give me an estimate that being in between 1000

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and 1200 dollars. As they don't keep the records for

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individual benches that are being restored. He also indicated in

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his report that there are 19 legacy Memorial benches dating

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back to 2004 or earlier. And I'm speculating when I

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say with respect to the other 18, I feel that

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there was no pushback with the changes that, uh, were

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introduced in 2009. And that I stand alone. I stand

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alone in my pursuit of securing agreement. The agreement that

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I agreed to, uh, with the prior administration in 2024

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or 2004, pardon me. Uh, before the August, 2025 meeting,

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if you recall Mayor, I had a reached out to,

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to, to you, uh, my telephone proposing, uh, that we,

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uh, uh, an alternative materials, i. e. man - made,

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uh, product where maintenance costs would be minimal in comparison

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to a cedar bench. I provided a picture of, uh,

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of one many, uh, many different styles that the company

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wishbone has in their catalogue after meeting in August 2025.

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I was informed by a staff member that someone would

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follow up with respect to the outcome of the meeting.

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I waited and waited and never got a response back.

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I felt fairly optimistic that Council would agree to this

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proposal. My plan was to use the money that the

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city had already committed to restoring my bench on the

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new bench. And I would make up the shortfall for

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the, for the new bench. Uh, in closing, I will

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say that I'm willing to work with Council to get

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to a place where it is a win - win

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for both, both sides. My ultimate goal is to have

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my bench grandfather at Imperportunity as originally agreed to the

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policy that was set in 2024. Um, uh, thank you

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to the mayor and Council members for the opportunity to

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speak to this matter. Um, I would appreciate if someone,

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uh, could follow up with this with respect to the

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outcome of this meeting and having said, having said that,

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I'll yield back to the mayor. Thank you. Thank you.

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All right, I'll now turn to the next speaker, Peter

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Rustlin. If you give him up to the podium, state

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your address.

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Thanks. Trish. Thanks for worship. My name is Peter Rustland.

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I live at 5807 banks Road in North Cowlichan. I'm

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urging Council again to pass. Emotions 9. 1 and 12.

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1. I guess 13 one, you know, is it in

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some ways related to 12 one. So I'll speak to

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those first two prohibiting data centres. This is a no

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brainer given all the environmental and energy, uh, problems and

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other jurisdictions and cities in North America that are banning

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them. Uh, and those communities that do have a doubt

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02:12:22,342 --> 02:12:26,862
of Denisetter have heavy problems with energy, water issues, noise,

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pollution. Uh, farmland loss. So, uh, that having said that,

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those things dovetail with our environmental bylaws and our, and

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our climate bylaws. But also 13 one agricultural land support,

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um, definitely, uh, I, I back this. This is somewhat

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of a, a reversal, uh, in that Council had recently

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failed to reconfirm a motion by a councillor, uh, Justice

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about, um, uh, reconfirming that North Countrygen is rural and

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farmland. And now here we are, uh, with its seeming

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reversal of that thought. Um, so I would urge 13

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one and 12 one to be passed. The other no

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brainer is 9. 1 about the, um, uh, the developer

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donations and disclosure policy. Um, this is, uh, something that

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should have been passed long ago, a year ago. Uh,

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to, for nothing else, uh, to show that Council is

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serious about recusal and dealing with developers and donations, uh,

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if nothing else, do rebuild the Publix trust in this

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Council that is, uh, has been reportedly sullied in the

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Public's eye. By seeming bias, by some councillors for them

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on this table. So again, I would, this is the

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very least we should do. The word must recuse, uh,

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must consider recusing. I see that as a nothing more

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than a fox and a chicken house, chicken in the

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hen house. Uh, I would have used stronger words like

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must recuse. Uh, in depending case by Kissin through staff

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in your worship. To determine, uh, that, uh, thank you

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very much for your time, Council and your. Turn of

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02:14:30,175 --> 02:14:32,415
the next speaker, Steven Volker. If you come up to

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the podium state or dress. Good evening. Honourable mayor and

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honourable councillors. My name is Steven Volker. My address is

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02:14:40,345 --> 02:14:44,964
2217Tarnplace in North Cowlican. I wish to address you on

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02:14:45,065 --> 02:14:53,253
items 9. 1 and 12. 1. Item 9. 1 reintroduces

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the August 19 motion to require Council members to do

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two things. One, disclose all donations from persons or entities

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with a financial interest in municipal land use matters and

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consider recusing themselves from Council Discussions of Such Matters. Two,

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report all meetings with persons, with a commercial interest in

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land use matters within 30 days and seek guidance regarding

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02:15:24,418 --> 02:15:30,077
potential or perceived bias before participating in decisions on such

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matters. These are eminently sensible proposals. I urge you to

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approve this motion. The real estate industry is by far

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02:15:40,744 --> 02:15:46,022
the biggest donor class. In our municipal elections. We conducted

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a search of public records. It revealed. That in the

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2022 and 2025 elections, the approximate percentages of contributions from

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this industry, excluding self and family donations were as follows.

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02:16:05,482 --> 02:16:12,661
Councillor Tech Manhouse 74 percent. Councillor Bruce Finley 72 percent.

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02:16:13,242 --> 02:16:20,341
Councillor Mike Cowyu 46 percent. Councillor Becky Hog 25 percent.

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02:16:20,922 --> 02:16:25,141
The other three councillors each received less than three percent

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02:16:25,642 --> 02:16:30,741
of their outside contributions from the real estate industry. Councillor

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02:16:30,781 --> 02:16:36,421
Justice 2. 4 percent Mayor Douglas 0. 7 percent Councillor

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Ishtar Our democracy requires transparency. Information from this motion will

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provide us. The BITUS, the public with the information we

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need to make informed decisions at the ballot box. Please

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approve this motion. Thank you. With regard to item 12.

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1, it asks staff to prepare a bylaw amendment. To

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ban data centres. This ban is needed to protect our

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valley from excessive demands on water supply and on electrical

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services from the loss of rural land and from harmful

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infrasound. Please utilise the best science and legal advice available

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02:17:20,809 --> 02:17:25,268
to assure that this bylaw will survive legal challenge. Thank

236
02:17:25,268 --> 02:17:30,476
you. Thank you. Now turn to the next speaker Joyce

237
02:17:30,516 --> 02:17:32,796
Benson. You can come up to the podium, state your

238
02:17:32,796 --> 02:17:37,256
address. Thank you and good evening Mayor and Council, Joyce

239
02:17:37,296 --> 02:17:41,016
Benson on Drinkwater Road. And I'm speaking to 4. 1.

240
02:17:41,117 --> 02:17:44,536
3, which is the accessibility advisory committee meetings, which I

241
02:17:44,576 --> 02:17:47,796
attended the Committee meeting the other last Tuesday morning. And

242
02:17:47,997 --> 02:17:52,696
I just would like to, the accessibility advisory committee has

243
02:17:53,117 --> 02:17:57,896
made a recommendation to purchase two listening devices to improve

244
02:17:58,397 --> 02:18:01,816
accessibility here in the Council Chambers for members of the

245
02:18:02,157 --> 02:18:06,616
Public attending Council meetings at the cost of perhaps about

246
02:18:07,437 --> 02:18:09,736
5, 700 dollars. They're not sure because it could end

247
02:18:09,736 --> 02:18:13,176
up changing. And so what I'd like to, I wish

248
02:18:13,216 --> 02:18:19,096
to respectfully recommend that councillors and staff, I know that

249
02:18:19,517 --> 02:18:23,256
Council changes soon, but Councillors and staff improve on their

250
02:18:23,437 --> 02:18:28,856
public speaking skills by speaking clearly and directly into the

251
02:18:29,117 --> 02:18:35,096
microphones that are provided specifically to be heard by everyone.

252
02:18:35,096 --> 02:18:37,896
It could even possibly say 5, 700 dollars, but I'm

253
02:18:37,896 --> 02:18:41,496
just suggesting that there's something on the inside here that

254
02:18:41,597 --> 02:18:44,696
could definitely be improved upon. And I just encourage you

255
02:18:44,797 --> 02:18:46,936
all to think about that and to know that it's

256
02:18:46,976 --> 02:18:51,896
much needed and appreciated. Now one other item that is,

257
02:18:51,896 --> 02:18:53,496
I can't find it on the agenda, but it's in

258
02:18:53,536 --> 02:18:56,936
our local paper. Grant opens for Community - led climate

259
02:18:56,957 --> 02:19:00,616
action projects. And I see that we're handing out taxpayer

260
02:19:00,877 --> 02:19:02,856
hard - earned money to the public for all kinds

261
02:19:02,856 --> 02:19:07,256
of really odd and questionable projects and events. It's been

262
02:19:07,256 --> 02:19:10,056
done in the past and it's continuing. And I just

263
02:19:10,056 --> 02:19:12,856
want to challenge that once again that this climate action

264
02:19:12,877 --> 02:19:15,656
energy plan tax is like another carbon tax. Thank you

265
02:19:15,677 --> 02:19:18,456
very much for everything and all you do to serve.

266
02:19:18,456 --> 02:19:22,615
Thank you. Thank you. Now good our last speaker, Jim

267
02:19:22,656 --> 02:19:27,566
Dias. Come up at podium, state your address. I will

268
02:19:27,606 --> 02:19:30,286
note that Mr. Diases, a recipient of the freedom of

269
02:19:30,286 --> 02:19:37,042
the municipality award. Okay. Soon as I start talking, the

270
02:19:37,042 --> 02:19:39,702
clock starts going. Uh, good afternoon Mayor and Council. Thank

271
02:19:39,702 --> 02:19:42,502
you for the opportunity to address you once again. I'm

272
02:19:42,523 --> 02:19:47,862
here to speak with respect to amenity contributions at 3037

273
02:19:48,043 --> 02:19:52,547
- 3047 West Hills Place. Just some bullet points that

274
02:19:52,587 --> 02:19:55,764
I'd like you to consider. The applicants are not developers.

275
02:19:56,506 --> 02:20:00,565
The applicants are not responsible for your infrastructure deficit of

276
02:20:00,605 --> 02:20:05,217
52. 4 million reported in the staff report. Staff is

277
02:20:05,217 --> 02:20:08,017
only recently brought it to your attention of our offer.

278
02:20:09,317 --> 02:20:14,096
Staff acknowledges that the Community, the CAC applicable to us

279
02:20:14,437 --> 02:20:19,155
is 15, 532 dollars. This amount creates a financial hardship.

280
02:20:19,928 --> 02:20:23,507
The CAAC policy is absent, nor were we ever advised

281
02:20:23,688 --> 02:20:27,907
and what criteria would be considered in quote, negotiations as

282
02:20:27,947 --> 02:20:31,435
referred to in the CAC policy. We've made an offer

283
02:20:31,616 --> 02:20:35,035
of 3, 500 dollars which we believe meets the criteria

284
02:20:35,035 --> 02:20:42,955
of a negotiation. As referred to in the policy. We

285
02:20:42,995 --> 02:20:46,555
are uncomfortable having to now negotiate in public in front

286
02:20:46,555 --> 02:20:50,466
of Council. There's no impact from our subdivision on the

287
02:20:50,727 --> 02:20:53,426
community at large or our neighbourhood and the scale of

288
02:20:53,426 --> 02:20:58,106
the subdivision is minimal. We've already expended a considerable amount

289
02:20:58,207 --> 02:21:00,506
of funds to get to this point and have considerable

290
02:21:00,687 --> 02:21:04,410
expenses going forward to complete the subdivision. Those are estimated

291
02:21:04,431 --> 02:21:08,010
at 50, 000 dollars. Quite a substantial sum to simply

292
02:21:08,031 --> 02:21:11,750
complete a one - lot subdivision. We have never considered

293
02:21:12,251 --> 02:21:17,333
nor contemplating additional density notwithstanding Bill 44. The assumption that

294
02:21:17,354 --> 02:21:21,173
that we can do that, what about water, what about

295
02:21:21,173 --> 02:21:25,955
sewer. It is just an assumption. Unlike a traditional developer,

296
02:21:25,955 --> 02:21:27,515
we will not able, we will not be able to

297
02:21:27,736 --> 02:21:31,124
recover costs to the salement lots. There needs to be

298
02:21:31,225 --> 02:21:35,564
consideration in your CAC policy for small lot, i. e.

299
02:21:35,945 --> 02:21:40,164
one extra lot subdivisions. You have a section 15A of

300
02:21:40,185 --> 02:21:44,804
bylaw number 1851, which is their subdivision servicing control bylaw.

301
02:21:45,462 --> 02:21:49,921
It states wherein service little requirements are not applicable to

302
02:21:50,022 --> 02:21:53,121
a subdivision of three new lots or less fronting on

303
02:21:53,222 --> 02:21:58,910
an existing road. So you've already established some consideration for

304
02:21:59,171 --> 02:22:01,070
small lot. Or like, I like to call them the

305
02:22:01,091 --> 02:22:04,696
mum and pops of the world. We have one request

306
02:22:04,736 --> 02:22:09,207
that you simply support our offer. Thank you. Thank you.

307
02:22:11,809 --> 02:22:14,828
All right, we're now going to move on to presentations.

308
02:22:14,828 --> 02:22:17,868
We have one presentation. This is the biannual fire department

309
02:22:17,969 --> 02:22:21,228
report and presentation. I'd like to welcome chief Ron French

310
02:22:21,329 --> 02:22:29,240
up to the podium. Good evening Mayor Council. Um, going

311
02:22:29,240 --> 02:22:33,529
to review our January 1st to June 30th. Activities from

312
02:22:33,529 --> 02:22:40,399
the first half of this year. No, there's.

313
02:22:44,872 --> 02:22:48,146
Part of our. Projects that we've been working on at

314
02:22:48,146 --> 02:22:50,546
the beginning of the year is getting our operational capital

315
02:22:50,586 --> 02:22:55,621
budgets in place. Uh, working with the finance and getting

316
02:22:55,642 --> 02:23:02,411
prepared for budget deliberations coming forward. For 2027. Uh, we

317
02:23:02,752 --> 02:23:06,551
are still working through some of the TEMPY recommendations, the

318
02:23:06,752 --> 02:23:09,371
non - monetary ones, uh, putting those pieces into place.

319
02:23:10,158 --> 02:23:13,177
Um, one said R will be coming back to Council

320
02:23:13,198 --> 02:23:17,986
for Council Approval as we move forward. Our preparing for

321
02:23:18,087 --> 02:23:23,566
our annual banquet October 3rd is on, on, ongoing, um,

322
02:23:24,087 --> 02:23:27,196
that's coming closer as we know. We did a recruitment

323
02:23:27,297 --> 02:23:32,556
drive last year and we brought on, uh, we had

324
02:23:32,556 --> 02:23:35,742
18 applicants. We were able to secure nine of them

325
02:23:37,203 --> 02:23:40,462
as new recruits. Two were already experienced firefighters that have

326
02:23:40,462 --> 02:23:45,342
been moved into the various stations as we needed them.

327
02:23:45,342 --> 02:23:49,902
And we'll be looking probably January of 2027 to see

328
02:23:49,902 --> 02:23:54,562
if we need more numbers or another recruiting class. We

329
02:23:54,583 --> 02:23:59,322
did, uh, we did have low numbers in Crofton. We

330
02:23:59,322 --> 02:24:02,082
find it very difficult to recruit into the crafton area.

331
02:24:02,082 --> 02:24:06,152
We did a special recruitment drive. Prior to the summer

332
02:24:06,333 --> 02:24:14,901
starting in working with our communications people. Through the district.

333
02:24:14,901 --> 02:24:19,941
We did a lot more, uh, communicating with Public to

334
02:24:19,941 --> 02:24:22,567
try to drive more people in. It didn't turn out

335
02:24:22,588 --> 02:24:25,607
very successful, sadly enough. We only ended up with one

336
02:24:25,647 --> 02:24:29,941
member, uh, able to join Coften. There just wasn't the

337
02:24:29,981 --> 02:24:33,463
application to come in. For it. So we'll be looking

338
02:24:33,503 --> 02:24:35,543
at, uh, at that in the new year as well

339
02:24:35,804 --> 02:24:37,383
to try to see if we can get more people

340
02:24:37,644 --> 02:24:44,700
into the confidention. One of the projects that we've been

341
02:24:44,700 --> 02:24:47,880
working with, with Council Approval is to developing our, uh,

342
02:24:48,641 --> 02:24:52,688
live fire training centre. Located at the back of the

343
02:24:52,728 --> 02:24:57,389
municipal hall here. We've gotten, uh, partway through the project,

344
02:24:57,389 --> 02:25:01,869
uh, we're hoping to have it completed off here early

345
02:25:01,909 --> 02:25:04,589
October, November. So we'll be doing live fires or in

346
02:25:04,629 --> 02:25:07,389
- house live fire training and house here. So we're

347
02:25:07,429 --> 02:25:09,789
working through that as we, as the season goes on.

348
02:25:10,706 --> 02:25:14,605
We were able to hire, well, not higher, but we

349
02:25:15,826 --> 02:25:19,165
awarded David Lowe's. He was our fire inspector as our

350
02:25:19,266 --> 02:25:25,745
wildland. Operations, assistant chief. So David, as we hire replacements,

351
02:25:25,785 --> 02:25:28,625
we'll move over in looking after our wild end program

352
02:25:28,966 --> 02:25:33,265
and operations. And in addition, he'll be providing inspections as

353
02:25:33,265 --> 02:25:37,985
well. So our reorgan, our department, uh, the three assistant

354
02:25:37,985 --> 02:25:44,205
chiefs, uh, various ones will have their specific portfolios. One

355
02:25:44,205 --> 02:25:49,079
will be assisting with the training. One is prevention. And

356
02:25:49,079 --> 02:25:51,319
then the wildland, but all three will actually be doing

357
02:25:51,580 --> 02:25:54,359
inspections as well. So if you do a rolling the

358
02:25:54,399 --> 02:25:59,150
positions as we move forward. Prior to the, uh, startup,

359
02:25:59,150 --> 02:26:02,910
we signed into BC Wildfire, signed our municipality up to

360
02:26:03,011 --> 02:26:05,310
be able to respond to fires for the province if

361
02:26:05,310 --> 02:26:09,023
needed. All the training requirements to be ready to go.

362
02:26:09,023 --> 02:26:12,559
We're completed. And, uh, not in the first six months,

363
02:26:12,559 --> 02:26:14,699
but in the last month and a half, we've had

364
02:26:15,860 --> 02:26:20,410
three apparatus out with cruise. Uh, boat 31, 32 days

365
02:26:20,511 --> 02:26:24,810
altogether, uh, working for the province. Oh, 35 of our

366
02:26:24,810 --> 02:26:27,930
members were able to cycle through doing 70 or 14

367
02:26:28,111 --> 02:26:31,370
day tours out in different parts of the province supporting

368
02:26:31,471 --> 02:26:35,648
sporting that. Which was a very positive, uh, learning experience

369
02:26:35,669 --> 02:26:38,448
for our members, uh, to work with other departments across

370
02:26:38,549 --> 02:26:41,968
the province. Um, it was quite, quite happy that we

371
02:26:42,069 --> 02:26:50,591
could support the province again. I'm going to get into

372
02:26:50,591 --> 02:26:54,811
some of the numbers of responses from, for the first

373
02:26:54,992 --> 02:27:00,435
six months. Like many things we've had an increase in

374
02:27:00,776 --> 02:27:06,845
totals in 2025. From January to June. We had 852

375
02:27:06,946 --> 02:27:13,061
responses. 2026, we're up to 936 responses. So far.

376
02:27:18,182 --> 02:27:22,161
The additional kind of disappointing, but the additional area that

377
02:27:22,201 --> 02:27:25,201
we looked at, uh, at Council's request was the corridor.

378
02:27:27,477 --> 02:27:30,669
We've done a lot of work. I want to recognise

379
02:27:30,770 --> 02:27:34,589
that the Bylaw Department in our Department are working quite

380
02:27:34,610 --> 02:27:38,163
closely together now in responses to the corridor. However, we've

381
02:27:38,264 --> 02:27:41,603
had an increase of 58 percent of responses from this

382
02:27:41,624 --> 02:27:45,787
time last year to this end, into the corridor. I

383
02:27:45,787 --> 02:27:50,587
think the more, more people down in that area and

384
02:27:50,587 --> 02:27:57,449
just more incidents that we've had to deal with. Our

385
02:27:57,449 --> 02:28:02,868
medical calls. Are averaging out. We've had 196 calls for

386
02:28:02,889 --> 02:28:07,309
medical first responder calls within all, all four stations. Uh,

387
02:28:07,490 --> 02:28:15,420
throughout the department. Some of our false alarms. Which we,

388
02:28:15,460 --> 02:28:19,140
we send warning letters out. Levy fines, that sort of

389
02:28:19,140 --> 02:28:23,139
thing. Uh, when they come in, we've had 175 incidents

390
02:28:23,160 --> 02:28:27,779
that we've been dealing with, with false alarms with different

391
02:28:27,819 --> 02:28:32,418
areas that we go into. Our training, uh, that's taking

392
02:28:32,458 --> 02:28:35,942
place in the first six months. Told a number of

393
02:28:35,942 --> 02:28:40,182
hours for all the members in. We had 894 sessions

394
02:28:40,603 --> 02:28:46,182
of training sessions and 7, 993 hours combined total for

395
02:28:46,222 --> 02:28:50,422
everybody for the training that they've taken. And it's ongoing

396
02:28:50,763 --> 02:28:53,622
year round. So that number will increase by the time

397
02:28:53,803 --> 02:28:59,367
the end of the year comes. Our fire inspections division,

398
02:28:59,367 --> 02:29:03,347
um. We've, we've dealt with 662 files that we've touched

399
02:29:03,928 --> 02:29:10,547
on fire inspections pre inspection visits. What we found success

400
02:29:10,547 --> 02:29:14,067
in is that we actually go to a business ahead

401
02:29:14,107 --> 02:29:16,787
of time, a cursory. This is what we're looking for.

402
02:29:17,823 --> 02:29:20,602
Schedule another date to come back. Give the owner the

403
02:29:20,602 --> 02:29:23,962
occupant time to meet the requirements as the fire inspection.

404
02:29:23,962 --> 02:29:28,282
So they're more successful. Um, so we're doing an education

405
02:29:28,783 --> 02:29:33,642
component. As you know, we hadn't the district hadn't done

406
02:29:33,663 --> 02:29:37,722
many inspections from prior years. And we just introducing how

407
02:29:37,983 --> 02:29:40,762
the inspection program works and we're getting some fairly good

408
02:29:40,863 --> 02:29:44,682
compliance. We do have some that take some extra work

409
02:29:44,703 --> 02:29:48,922
to get there. But, uh, I think we're doing, we're

410
02:29:49,023 --> 02:29:55,082
doing much better than we were before. Structure fires, including

411
02:29:55,583 --> 02:30:00,762
outdoor fires, uh, buildings vehicle fires. We had 159 reportable

412
02:30:00,802 --> 02:30:06,831
fires. On there. And, uh, back to our Public Education

413
02:30:06,932 --> 02:30:12,671
Component that's going into the schools, community events, that sort

414
02:30:12,671 --> 02:30:18,951
of thing. Uh, we've able to speak to 1982 participants

415
02:30:18,972 --> 02:30:21,551
that came to those in the first six months. So.

416
02:30:22,767 --> 02:30:25,466
Um, lots of, lots of stuff going on with the

417
02:30:25,506 --> 02:30:29,870
Department and everybody staying, um, quite busy. But one of

418
02:30:29,870 --> 02:30:32,990
the things that makes our department, what it is, is

419
02:30:33,171 --> 02:30:37,870
the support we have from, not only from Council, but,

420
02:30:37,870 --> 02:30:42,604
uh, Human Resources. We do have a lot of HR

421
02:30:42,644 --> 02:30:44,444
issues we need to deal with. And I wouldn't be

422
02:30:44,444 --> 02:30:47,643
able to do it without their support. And the other

423
02:30:47,664 --> 02:30:50,283
piece that we've been really taping into lately is trying

424
02:30:50,283 --> 02:30:53,943
to work with our communications team with the district, uh,

425
02:30:54,064 --> 02:30:55,483
puts a lot of pressure on them. But we're trying

426
02:30:55,523 --> 02:30:59,643
to communicate out to the community sooner when activities are

427
02:30:59,664 --> 02:31:03,369
taking place. Uh, anything that's coming in, and especially in

428
02:31:03,369 --> 02:31:06,649
the summer season, anybody who sees smoke, we've seen them

429
02:31:06,689 --> 02:31:09,449
again multiple calls and that sort of thing. So the

430
02:31:09,489 --> 02:31:11,529
Public is very aware. And we pass it over to

431
02:31:11,529 --> 02:31:14,809
our communications to try to take the angst out of

432
02:31:14,809 --> 02:31:17,369
people when they do see things. So, uh, the support

433
02:31:17,630 --> 02:31:22,377
from our comms team has been great. And that's what

434
02:31:22,377 --> 02:31:26,217
all I have. Anybody has questions. Thanks, Chief. I've got

435
02:31:26,558 --> 02:31:29,817
Councillor Callio and Councillor Justice and Councillor Finley at their

436
02:31:29,857 --> 02:31:36,146
hands up. Thanks, Chief, for the report. Um. The new

437
02:31:36,186 --> 02:31:40,626
training centre that's going to be operational in October is

438
02:31:40,626 --> 02:31:45,666
the plan with that, I believe to have other jurisdictions

439
02:31:45,706 --> 02:31:47,826
come here and actually pay us to use that facility.

440
02:31:48,840 --> 02:31:52,099
Yeah. Trading centre. Yeah. That's correct. We'll set a model

441
02:31:52,139 --> 02:31:56,458
up. In the past. We've been having to travel out

442
02:31:56,458 --> 02:31:59,652
of town to have a training centres. Um, being that

443
02:31:59,652 --> 02:32:03,812
we have 120 members, uh, we looked at trying to

444
02:32:03,812 --> 02:32:06,212
create a program that we can train in - house.

445
02:32:06,212 --> 02:32:09,012
So we've developed 12 of our own live fire instructors

446
02:32:09,033 --> 02:32:13,788
that are certified to NFPA standards. Building out the training

447
02:32:14,209 --> 02:32:17,706
livefire training centre in the back. When we're running courses.

448
02:32:17,706 --> 02:32:20,026
If we have spare seats, we have opportunity to invite

449
02:32:20,607 --> 02:32:24,266
other municipalities or fire departments to come in and start

450
02:32:24,306 --> 02:32:26,826
to use it. So the business model is create some

451
02:32:26,866 --> 02:32:29,066
revenue, put it back into the system and that'll help

452
02:32:29,327 --> 02:32:31,786
keep the system going for ourselves unless in our costs

453
02:32:32,287 --> 02:32:37,726
overall. Fantastic. One more quick one. Um, when it comes

454
02:32:37,726 --> 02:32:41,806
to false alarms, I mean 175, you know, that's quite

455
02:32:41,806 --> 02:32:43,966
a bit. And these false alarms, you have to attend.

456
02:32:45,025 --> 02:32:48,524
And so the question is the system for dealing with

457
02:32:48,524 --> 02:32:52,524
these false alarms. How does that work? Is it you

458
02:32:52,524 --> 02:32:56,684
verbally warn them? There's a written warning and then, then

459
02:32:56,724 --> 02:33:01,903
you find them. Yeah. Um, if it's a residential false

460
02:33:01,903 --> 02:33:05,903
alarm, uh, we make sure that what is the reason

461
02:33:06,324 --> 02:33:09,657
the alarm has gone off. And a lot of, uh,

462
02:33:10,738 --> 02:33:13,277
homeowners will call back and say there's no issue. It's

463
02:33:13,277 --> 02:33:15,997
just false. We follow up to make sure why this

464
02:33:16,098 --> 02:33:18,237
system went off. This is a system that is failing

465
02:33:18,498 --> 02:33:21,437
and triggering for no reason. Or was it an incident

466
02:33:21,458 --> 02:33:24,489
in a house. And, uh, cooking dinner and setting an

467
02:33:24,529 --> 02:33:26,489
alarm off. The alarm did what it's supposed to do.

468
02:33:26,489 --> 02:33:29,369
So that's not technically false. But they get reported in

469
02:33:29,390 --> 02:33:32,249
different ways. Uh, that gets me an opportunity to get

470
02:33:32,249 --> 02:33:34,969
our crews into residents to make sure that everything is

471
02:33:35,009 --> 02:33:38,569
good and that they understand how their systems work. Commercial

472
02:33:38,590 --> 02:33:42,649
ones, we do have a lot of, uh, repeat offenders

473
02:33:42,750 --> 02:33:45,209
in different areas just for the clientele that's coming in

474
02:33:45,249 --> 02:33:47,289
and out of their buildings, setting alarms off and that

475
02:33:47,329 --> 02:33:50,249
sort of thing. So I work with those and with

476
02:33:50,289 --> 02:33:52,809
bylaw. We work with them to try to mitigate those

477
02:33:53,070 --> 02:33:55,172
false alarms coming in. The best we can. Uh, but

478
02:33:55,172 --> 02:33:57,892
they do get, uh, they get warning letters in their

479
02:33:57,892 --> 02:34:01,572
12 month period. I look at what, what is taking

480
02:34:01,612 --> 02:34:04,052
place and what they're doing. Is it a system that

481
02:34:04,073 --> 02:34:07,892
needs to be serviced and reviewed. They'll get a letter

482
02:34:07,892 --> 02:34:10,452
to service your system. And then we'll move into Laby

483
02:34:10,473 --> 02:34:15,364
as the last resort. Okay. Thanks, Chief French. Council of

484
02:34:15,364 --> 02:34:20,069
Justice. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Chief French. Um,

485
02:34:21,450 --> 02:34:24,709
there's been some very difficult times for the fire department

486
02:34:25,050 --> 02:34:29,589
recently. And I hope the firefighters recognise how much they're

487
02:34:29,629 --> 02:34:33,429
dedication is appreciated. I'm sure it's been very difficult for

488
02:34:33,610 --> 02:34:37,672
many of them. Um. I wanted to ask you about

489
02:34:37,712 --> 02:34:40,832
something slightly different. Which is about a year ago, as

490
02:34:40,832 --> 02:34:46,233
you recall. This Council made wildfire preparedness is strategic. Priority.

491
02:34:46,584 --> 02:34:51,283
And you've already touched on that. But I like you

492
02:34:51,304 --> 02:34:54,403
for the benefit of the community as well as Council.

493
02:34:56,291 --> 02:34:58,750
To just give us a little overview of what we're

494
02:34:58,750 --> 02:35:07,390
doing to prepare for wildfires wildland fires in our municipality.

495
02:35:08,812 --> 02:35:11,031
So part of the preparedness for it was to develop

496
02:35:11,052 --> 02:35:15,031
that position of the wildland assistant chief in wildland operations.

497
02:35:15,646 --> 02:35:18,265
That position will look at anything that has any type

498
02:35:18,265 --> 02:35:23,705
of forest or mitigation strategies that go with it. We'll

499
02:35:23,745 --> 02:35:26,265
be developing out, uh, in - house fire smart program

500
02:35:27,166 --> 02:35:31,486
that he'll manage that as well. Uh, we are looking

501
02:35:31,507 --> 02:35:35,726
at an over our report that's going to come in

502
02:35:36,067 --> 02:35:38,846
identifying where we need to go, what the roadmap looks

503
02:35:38,846 --> 02:35:41,406
like to protect the district better and what we actually

504
02:35:41,427 --> 02:35:44,526
need to do to make that happen. So that'll come,

505
02:35:44,526 --> 02:35:48,179
uh, with part of the funding from last year. The

506
02:35:48,179 --> 02:35:50,659
consultants review that we'll work with them to set what

507
02:35:50,699 --> 02:35:53,219
we're looking for out of it. Once that comes in,

508
02:35:53,219 --> 02:35:55,619
then we'll start to put those pieces in play. What

509
02:35:55,619 --> 02:35:58,099
has to happen. So we'll be looking at, uh, areas

510
02:35:58,600 --> 02:36:01,299
of response in the district, how we respond to it,

511
02:36:01,299 --> 02:36:03,859
what type of equipment we respond to it with, that

512
02:36:03,859 --> 02:36:08,502
sort of thing. Um, we had the pre - Voltier.

513
02:36:08,502 --> 02:36:11,062
We did respond to that. And it taught us a

514
02:36:11,062 --> 02:36:13,702
few things about where we're going with our apparatus and

515
02:36:13,742 --> 02:36:16,422
what type of apparatus we have and what our capabilities

516
02:36:16,422 --> 02:36:19,622
are and aren't. Um, so that, that'll all come into

517
02:36:19,883 --> 02:36:22,482
this package as we move forward. But one of the

518
02:36:22,482 --> 02:36:24,622
biggest things that'll come out is we'll be able to

519
02:36:24,622 --> 02:36:28,162
start helping residents with FIRE smarting around their property. And

520
02:36:28,162 --> 02:36:30,582
then we'll be working on what the district needs to

521
02:36:30,622 --> 02:36:33,542
protect its forest reserve and other areas of the, of

522
02:36:33,582 --> 02:36:36,662
the district as well. It looks at our training to

523
02:36:36,702 --> 02:36:38,822
make sure that we are getting the adequate training for

524
02:36:38,822 --> 02:36:41,782
our members to go do the work in the wildland

525
02:36:41,822 --> 02:36:44,716
areas that they need to do as well. Thank you

526
02:36:44,737 --> 02:36:52,078
for that. Councillor Finley. Thanks Mr. Mayor and I'll try

527
02:36:52,078 --> 02:36:54,318
to lead in a little more. So, uh, Ms. Benson

528
02:36:54,358 --> 02:36:55,678
can hear me because apparently I'm one of the worst

529
02:36:55,779 --> 02:37:00,186
offenders. The false alarms 175 false alarms are they included

530
02:37:00,186 --> 02:37:06,304
in the 936 incident calls. Yes. And those false alarms

531
02:37:06,565 --> 02:37:09,824
is that whether you roll a duty officer truck or

532
02:37:09,864 --> 02:37:15,369
not. We roll in every alarm will roll a truck.

533
02:37:15,369 --> 02:37:17,689
We'll respond to it. Okay. So and the reason I

534
02:37:17,689 --> 02:37:20,169
ask is, is my hood fan people triggered my alarm

535
02:37:20,750 --> 02:37:23,609
and my pub three months ago. And RCMP showed up.

536
02:37:24,824 --> 02:37:27,603
Not fire. So I'm just curious if, if that call

537
02:37:27,624 --> 02:37:29,683
is in there or if that would be on RCMP's

538
02:37:29,723 --> 02:37:32,403
list. That'd be on RCMP list. So it's probably your

539
02:37:32,403 --> 02:37:38,624
security system to tagged. Yeah. Okay. Great. And, um, the,

540
02:37:38,664 --> 02:37:42,464
the three operatus we sent over to BC wildfire fire

541
02:37:42,464 --> 02:37:45,184
is over in summerland and Clinton and places like that.

542
02:37:45,184 --> 02:37:49,084
Um, BC wildfire. Did they reimburse us for those? The

543
02:37:49,084 --> 02:37:52,624
use of our apparatus and our firefighters. Yeah. That's correct.

544
02:37:52,664 --> 02:37:57,504
There's a document. It's called the interagency agreement between BC

545
02:37:57,544 --> 02:38:01,264
fire chiefs association, which represents solvent municipalities of the fire

546
02:38:01,285 --> 02:38:05,184
departments and BC wildfire. So there's a, it's a very

547
02:38:06,085 --> 02:38:08,784
well laid out document. It lines out everything that we're

548
02:38:08,824 --> 02:38:13,344
compensated for. So our members go out and they're compensated.

549
02:38:13,344 --> 02:38:15,104
We get cost recovery back for their time that they

550
02:38:15,144 --> 02:38:17,024
spend in the field and then we get compensated for

551
02:38:17,045 --> 02:38:20,431
our apparatus as well. So it helps us in the

552
02:38:21,252 --> 02:38:24,511
long, long run. Um, we look at what we're sending

553
02:38:24,532 --> 02:38:27,151
out. And I make sure that if we're sending something

554
02:38:27,151 --> 02:38:30,991
out, we still have good coverage here. Um, and then

555
02:38:31,012 --> 02:38:34,271
it goes out on a, they'll send out a resource

556
02:38:34,372 --> 02:38:36,491
request for the type of apparatus you're looking for. And

557
02:38:36,491 --> 02:38:39,231
if we have that already pre - registered with them,

558
02:38:39,231 --> 02:38:40,991
we can assign the crew in the way they go.

559
02:38:40,991 --> 02:38:43,471
But, uh, it does benefit us in the end of

560
02:38:43,492 --> 02:38:47,071
the day financially as well. We'll have, uh, we'll have

561
02:38:47,111 --> 02:38:50,271
some hopefully left over resources that going back into the

562
02:38:50,311 --> 02:38:58,032
funding. Councillor Manasse. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, friend

563
02:38:58,032 --> 02:39:01,472
Chief, for your presentation there. Um, you mentioned 58 percent

564
02:39:01,573 --> 02:39:04,851
increase. Does that include when you have to go and

565
02:39:04,872 --> 02:39:08,211
play and walk someone to individuals also or satches fires.

566
02:39:08,613 --> 02:39:10,832
No, that would be for any type of incident down

567
02:39:10,832 --> 02:39:13,552
there. Uh, so first responder calls, that sort of thing

568
02:39:13,552 --> 02:39:16,032
that we're called to as well. It's every type of

569
02:39:16,133 --> 02:39:18,112
call that we go down to. Can you give us

570
02:39:18,853 --> 02:39:21,552
a numbers what percent or percentage of what is actual

571
02:39:21,573 --> 02:39:25,872
fires? What was the actual for Navoxone or other calls?

572
02:39:26,133 --> 02:39:28,192
I'd have to dig into that and try to figure

573
02:39:28,232 --> 02:39:31,072
out what, what percentage we're first responder calls to go

574
02:39:31,072 --> 02:39:35,499
to and what. Uh, where we actually administered an Illuxon

575
02:39:35,539 --> 02:39:38,939
to a patient that would take a bit of time

576
02:39:38,960 --> 02:39:42,059
to actually go because the record of those go to

577
02:39:42,059 --> 02:39:45,758
the BC online service. We all take it as a

578
02:39:45,798 --> 02:39:51,438
first responder called incident and not they actually work we

579
02:39:51,478 --> 02:39:53,758
did with that patient. Look, I think that'd be interesting

580
02:39:53,779 --> 02:39:57,838
to see if what percentage that is, especially if what

581
02:39:57,838 --> 02:39:59,518
you're supposed to be doing is fighting fires, but you're

582
02:39:59,558 --> 02:40:02,958
spending most of your time, do another stuff. Yeah. And

583
02:40:03,219 --> 02:40:07,438
our first responder program, medical side of the house that

584
02:40:07,478 --> 02:40:11,758
we deal with, uh, that's, that's at Council's directions for

585
02:40:11,758 --> 02:40:13,598
us to be in that program or not be in

586
02:40:13,598 --> 02:40:16,718
that program. Um, we have different levels that we have

587
02:40:16,819 --> 02:40:19,918
set in different areas that we respond to to try

588
02:40:19,918 --> 02:40:22,878
to limit out, uh, because we just couldn't respond to

589
02:40:23,779 --> 02:40:28,118
every first responder call that the Amulet system has. So

590
02:40:28,118 --> 02:40:30,878
we do the delayed and the purple most severe calls

591
02:40:31,619 --> 02:40:34,367
that we respond to. I was talking to the Duncan

592
02:40:34,388 --> 02:40:37,487
Business Approvement area a couple, a couple of days ago.

593
02:40:37,487 --> 02:40:39,807
And they've had a rash of incidents of broken windows

594
02:40:39,828 --> 02:40:43,807
now and theft and fires in the downtown core there.

595
02:40:43,807 --> 02:40:46,767
And what they have hired is actually a security team

596
02:40:47,108 --> 02:40:49,327
from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. to help

597
02:40:49,367 --> 02:40:52,507
them with that. So just want to give that, you

598
02:40:52,507 --> 02:40:58,553
know, thanks. All right. Um, Chief French on BFA Council.

599
02:40:58,553 --> 02:41:00,553
I just want to express our appreciation for all the

600
02:41:00,974 --> 02:41:04,033
firefighters who are deployed to the interior this summer. I

601
02:41:04,033 --> 02:41:06,473
believe you mentioned it was four rotations. So about 30

602
02:41:06,513 --> 02:41:09,433
different firefighters almost, uh, I know a lot of time

603
02:41:09,454 --> 02:41:12,773
away from their families, but, uh, these communities in the

604
02:41:12,773 --> 02:41:14,793
Tyrion appreciate have been in contact with one of the

605
02:41:14,814 --> 02:41:18,873
mayors there who are really happy about, obviously not about

606
02:41:18,913 --> 02:41:21,673
the situation, but there's so much support coming from communities

607
02:41:21,774 --> 02:41:24,613
across the province like ours. And as you noted, uh,

608
02:41:24,734 --> 02:41:29,593
chief French, this provides our firefighters with valuable training and

609
02:41:29,614 --> 02:41:32,833
firsthand experience. Um, in the event that we're going to

610
02:41:32,833 --> 02:41:35,553
have to combat firefighters here in our own community, we

611
02:41:35,854 --> 02:41:38,793
saw a couple scares over the summer. And based on,

612
02:41:38,793 --> 02:41:41,353
uh, what we're seeing with the warmer and drier summers

613
02:41:41,454 --> 02:41:43,653
and we can expect more of these going forward. And

614
02:41:43,653 --> 02:41:46,473
we're lucky to have yourself and the team there at

615
02:41:46,473 --> 02:41:48,793
the, uh, North Country Fire Department who are preparing us

616
02:41:48,894 --> 02:41:52,553
for these, uh, events and making sure we take the

617
02:41:52,654 --> 02:41:57,013
right steps to protect our communities, especially in these, uh,

618
02:41:57,214 --> 02:42:00,553
wildlife and interfaces, which there's a lot of homes in

619
02:42:00,553 --> 02:42:03,673
that position with the size of our municipal forest reserve

620
02:42:03,774 --> 02:42:08,282
and our overall municipality. Thank you, Mayor. Great. Thank you.

621
02:42:08,322 --> 02:42:11,606
Any other questions or comments from Council. Ari. Thanks, Chief

622
02:42:11,606 --> 02:42:21,447
French. All right. Okay. Uh, one

623
02:42:21,487 --> 02:42:24,327
site Council Justice. We're on item 9. 1 developer donations

624
02:42:24,668 --> 02:42:28,096
and disclosure of meetings. Um. As I was the author

625
02:42:28,096 --> 02:42:31,216
of this, uh, propose I would like to speak to

626
02:42:31,256 --> 02:42:32,656
it first. Although I think there might be an interest

627
02:42:32,677 --> 02:42:34,416
in deferring it. But if I could just offer a

628
02:42:34,416 --> 02:42:37,836
few comments first and then I'll. You want to speak

629
02:42:37,876 --> 02:42:40,323
now. Or wait for me. I would like to move

630
02:42:40,984 --> 02:42:43,603
the motion to recommend emotion. Okay. It's been moved. Is

631
02:42:43,603 --> 02:42:47,932
there a seconder. Second obey Councillor Stash. I will yield

632
02:42:48,033 --> 02:42:50,972
my right as a mover to speak to offer a

633
02:42:50,972 --> 02:42:52,652
few comments and I'll turn it to you. And then

634
02:42:52,652 --> 02:42:55,612
if there's, um, interest in deferring it to a future

635
02:42:55,612 --> 02:43:03,129
meeting, we can certainly entertain that. So just to refresh,

636
02:43:03,129 --> 02:43:07,849
everyone's memory, uh, I brought this motion forward almost exactly

637
02:43:08,030 --> 02:43:11,614
a year ago. And, uh, I think it's important to

638
02:43:11,614 --> 02:43:14,554
remember what this was about. It was about transparency. The

639
02:43:14,554 --> 02:43:19,046
motion would establish. Clear expectations around campaign donations and meetings

640
02:43:19,227 --> 02:43:23,126
involving people or entities with significant financial interests and municipal

641
02:43:23,227 --> 02:43:26,585
and use matters. It would provide for disclosure those relationships

642
02:43:26,686 --> 02:43:29,625
and ask Council members to consider recusal one - those

643
02:43:29,625 --> 02:43:32,994
relationships could create a perceived conflict. And so you may

644
02:43:32,994 --> 02:43:35,074
ask why that matters. And I would say it matters

645
02:43:35,114 --> 02:43:39,387
because Public Trust is fundamental to local government. When Council

646
02:43:39,427 --> 02:43:44,747
makes decisions about rezonings, development applications, variances, or other land

647
02:43:44,747 --> 02:43:48,427
use matters, the financial stakes can be enormous. These decisions

648
02:43:48,768 --> 02:43:52,427
can potentially affect property values and financial interests by millions

649
02:43:52,448 --> 02:43:55,983
of dollars. Residents should be confident that those decisions are

650
02:43:56,023 --> 02:43:58,383
being made fairly and in the public interests. They shouldn't

651
02:43:58,383 --> 02:44:01,743
have to wonder whether a campaign contribution, a private meeting

652
02:44:02,004 --> 02:44:04,543
or relationship with someone who stands a benefit from a

653
02:44:04,543 --> 02:44:07,503
decision as influence, how a Council Member votes. I don't

654
02:44:07,543 --> 02:44:09,903
want to be clear that this motion isn't suggesting that

655
02:44:09,924 --> 02:44:13,486
anyone around this table has done anything wrong. It's about

656
02:44:13,507 --> 02:44:17,825
transparency and avoiding the appearance of undue influence. I brought

657
02:44:17,926 --> 02:44:20,945
this motion forward last year and I appreciate the Council

658
02:44:20,945 --> 02:44:24,225
referred it to a legal opinion. Really do appreciate that.

659
02:44:24,225 --> 02:44:26,945
I think some folks maybe came into the meeting wanting

660
02:44:26,945 --> 02:44:29,985
to vote against it, but we're curious enough and kept

661
02:44:30,086 --> 02:44:32,065
an open mind that you did refer it back to

662
02:44:32,166 --> 02:44:36,065
staff. And again, we got that legal opinion. And Council

663
02:44:36,105 --> 02:44:38,385
did Just decide prior to this meeting to release that

664
02:44:38,566 --> 02:44:42,305
legal opinion for PublicView. So that will be posted on

665
02:44:42,345 --> 02:44:47,251
our website shortly. Now I reviewed that opinion carefully. And

666
02:44:47,251 --> 02:44:49,351
I think there's an important distinction that needs to be

667
02:44:49,351 --> 02:44:53,104
made. The legal opinion raised a number of legal and

668
02:44:53,104 --> 02:44:57,801
technical concerns about the proposed policy. Those concerns, in my

669
02:44:57,801 --> 02:44:59,801
view, are worth considering, and I'm open to addressing them

670
02:44:59,841 --> 02:45:02,201
through changes to the wording or structure of the policy.

671
02:45:03,325 --> 02:45:05,704
But those concerns shouldn't cause us to lose sight of

672
02:45:05,704 --> 02:45:09,384
the underlying policy question. No one is suggesting that campaign

673
02:45:09,565 --> 02:45:12,424
donations from developers are illegal. That's not the point of

674
02:45:12,424 --> 02:45:15,144
this motion. The question is whether Council should have a

675
02:45:15,184 --> 02:45:20,344
higher standard of transparency when the financial relationship between a

676
02:45:20,365 --> 02:45:23,464
Council member and someone who has made a significant financial,

677
02:45:23,464 --> 02:45:25,704
who has a significant financial interest in a matter before

678
02:45:25,965 --> 02:45:30,676
Council through a donation. So something can be legal and

679
02:45:30,676 --> 02:45:34,516
still raise legitimate questions about public confidence. Our role isn't

680
02:45:34,556 --> 02:45:37,172
simply to ask if it's allowed under the law. But

681
02:45:37,193 --> 02:45:39,092
we should also ask that this is the best standard

682
02:45:39,132 --> 02:45:42,045
for Public Trust. And I believe we can answer those

683
02:45:42,045 --> 02:45:46,287
two questions differently. This motion does not prohibit campaign donations.

684
02:45:46,287 --> 02:45:49,647
It does not prohibit Council members from meeting with developers,

685
02:45:49,647 --> 02:45:52,527
consultants, lobbyists, or other people with an interest in land

686
02:45:52,527 --> 02:45:56,287
use decisions. Simply says that we must be transponible this

687
02:45:56,287 --> 02:45:59,967
relationships. And when the potential or perceived conflict take it

688
02:46:00,007 --> 02:46:03,359
seriously. And I recognise that there are legitimate questions about

689
02:46:03,380 --> 02:46:06,399
how terms such as developer or development interest should be

690
02:46:06,439 --> 02:46:08,399
defined. And this was raised a year ago when it

691
02:46:08,399 --> 02:46:10,639
was brought forward to Council and has come out in

692
02:46:10,639 --> 02:46:13,199
our legal opinion as well. And in my view, those

693
02:46:13,380 --> 02:46:16,399
concerns can be addressed through better wording in the policy.

694
02:46:17,428 --> 02:46:20,687
We can focus on the policy. We can focus, sorry,

695
02:46:20,687 --> 02:46:23,887
the policy on people or entities that I direct financial

696
02:46:23,988 --> 02:46:26,447
interests in a specific development or land use matter before

697
02:46:26,548 --> 02:46:30,447
Council rather than trying to create an overly broad definition.

698
02:46:32,114 --> 02:46:35,053
They're also concerns raised about the enforcement and how the

699
02:46:35,394 --> 02:46:37,933
policy would apply if the Council Member did not follow

700
02:46:37,954 --> 02:46:41,093
it. Again, I think those issues we can address. If

701
02:46:41,314 --> 02:46:44,053
must just do strong in certain provisions and willing to

702
02:46:44,053 --> 02:46:46,879
consider changing it to should. But I don't think technical

703
02:46:47,940 --> 02:46:51,119
questions about definitions are enforcement should cause us to abandon

704
02:46:51,140 --> 02:46:54,418
the underlying principle. In fact, I believe a clear policy

705
02:46:54,519 --> 02:46:58,159
can protect Council members as well as the public. Clear

706
02:46:58,199 --> 02:47:01,919
expectations around disclosure give Council members a straightforward way to

707
02:47:01,919 --> 02:47:05,119
demonstrate that they have nothing to hide and that they're

708
02:47:05,159 --> 02:47:07,999
following the same standards everyone else. It also give Council

709
02:47:08,039 --> 02:47:10,639
Members guidance when they find themselves in a situation where

710
02:47:10,820 --> 02:47:13,519
there may be a perceived conflict. Ultimately, this is about

711
02:47:13,559 --> 02:47:17,187
the confidence residents having their local government. People don't expect

712
02:47:17,208 --> 02:47:21,707
Council members to have no relationships with developers, businesses, or

713
02:47:21,707 --> 02:47:24,227
others who have interest in municipal decisions. That's simply part

714
02:47:24,267 --> 02:47:27,649
of participating in local government. What residents should be able

715
02:47:27,649 --> 02:47:33,217
to expect is transparency. The law established the requirements for

716
02:47:33,558 --> 02:47:36,177
the Council must follow, but Council can also choose to

717
02:47:36,217 --> 02:47:40,097
set a higher standard for transparency and ethical conduct. I

718
02:47:40,137 --> 02:47:42,817
believe we should do that, particularly when the decisions before

719
02:47:42,918 --> 02:47:46,737
us can have such significant financial consequences. The motion isn't

720
02:47:46,777 --> 02:47:49,297
about assuming Ron doing. It's about creating a system that

721
02:47:49,398 --> 02:47:53,057
gives residence confidence and council's decisions and that they're being

722
02:47:53,057 --> 02:47:56,097
made openly, fairly, and in the public interest. And for

723
02:47:56,097 --> 02:47:58,497
those reasons, I would ask Council to support the motion

724
02:47:58,537 --> 02:48:06,455
on the floor. Council Justice. Thank you, Mr. Tumehr. Um.

725
02:48:06,848 --> 02:48:10,667
I'd like to start out by actually thanking the mayor.

726
02:48:11,992 --> 02:48:15,251
For his leadership and bringing this policy idea forward. I'm

727
02:48:15,251 --> 02:48:16,531
one of the things we learned was a lot of

728
02:48:16,632 --> 02:48:21,562
communities. Struggle with this issue, but very few have directly

729
02:48:21,823 --> 02:48:25,553
taken it on. So kudos to you for directly taking

730
02:48:25,734 --> 02:48:28,413
this on. I've been thinking quite a bit about it

731
02:48:28,674 --> 02:48:34,147
over the last year. Um, I think what the key

732
02:48:34,187 --> 02:48:38,467
issue is, as you just said, about maintaining the public

733
02:48:38,488 --> 02:48:45,074
trust. We've known from the start that the Community Chartered,

734
02:48:45,074 --> 02:48:51,154
the legislation that governs our behaviour and things that we

735
02:48:51,175 --> 02:48:58,594
can and cannot do, does not legally prohibit accepting a

736
02:48:58,594 --> 02:49:01,874
donation from someone and then voting on a proposal that

737
02:49:01,874 --> 02:49:06,337
they bring to the Council. We know that's not legal.

738
02:49:06,337 --> 02:49:10,097
We knew before we did a legal review, that illegal,

739
02:49:10,097 --> 02:49:15,094
thank you. Um. But legality is not what this is

740
02:49:15,094 --> 02:49:18,934
about, right? Like the thing is, even though things may

741
02:49:18,974 --> 02:49:25,974
not be, um, illegal, they can still be negative and

742
02:49:25,995 --> 02:49:31,463
cause harm. Um, a person can legally throw up a

743
02:49:31,463 --> 02:49:34,263
handful of sand on a windy day on a beach.

744
02:49:34,263 --> 02:49:38,605
That's not illegal. The question isn't whether it's legal, the

745
02:49:38,605 --> 02:49:41,905
decision point should be. What harmed does this do? What

746
02:49:41,926 --> 02:49:49,824
how does it affect the people around us. Um. Point

747
02:49:49,824 --> 02:49:52,784
is that it's not a question of whether it's legal

748
02:49:52,965 --> 02:49:56,144
to take a campaign donation. And then vote on the

749
02:49:56,325 --> 02:50:00,464
person who's given it to you their development application. Rather,

750
02:50:00,464 --> 02:50:04,946
this is an ethical and a practical issue. It's wrong

751
02:50:04,986 --> 02:50:10,150
because it does damage to the social fabric. I think

752
02:50:10,171 --> 02:50:13,911
most of us would agree. With what the mayor said

753
02:50:13,951 --> 02:50:19,111
earlier that it's really important to maintain public confidence in

754
02:50:19,151 --> 02:50:22,071
all of our decisions, but especially land use decisions because

755
02:50:22,071 --> 02:50:25,991
of the huge amount of money that's involved in those.

756
02:50:25,991 --> 02:50:29,831
Um, and we know we've been taught this from the

757
02:50:29,871 --> 02:50:33,671
very beginning of our time on Council that such confidence

758
02:50:33,711 --> 02:50:42,554
depends both on impartiality and the appearance of impartiality. So

759
02:50:43,295 --> 02:50:47,834
taking donations from developers or anybody else with a financial

760
02:50:48,175 --> 02:50:51,994
stake in a Council Decision. And then voting on that

761
02:50:52,255 --> 02:50:57,788
proposal. Is bad for the community because it undermines the

762
02:50:58,129 --> 02:51:02,434
trust of the community in the decision making process. And

763
02:51:02,775 --> 02:51:05,314
I just want to be really clear on this one

764
02:51:05,354 --> 02:51:09,714
point. This is not about taking campaign donations from people

765
02:51:10,135 --> 02:51:14,674
who are like - minded. Nobody's saying suggesting that's a

766
02:51:14,714 --> 02:51:18,434
problem and developers are like - minded with some people

767
02:51:18,434 --> 02:51:21,874
who support development. This is about when you've taken a

768
02:51:21,874 --> 02:51:27,074
donation and a decision from the donator comes before the

769
02:51:27,255 --> 02:51:33,534
Council. And in such situations, um, the donation will, um,

770
02:51:35,015 --> 02:51:40,114
will cause the public to perceive that there is influence

771
02:51:40,215 --> 02:51:44,594
being purchased. And that certainly undermines the public trust. So

772
02:51:44,855 --> 02:51:49,554
in my opinion, absolutely we need a policy where councillors

773
02:51:49,575 --> 02:51:53,073
recuse themselves from decisions. Where they have received a donation.

774
02:51:53,858 --> 02:51:59,917
Um, again, it's irrelevant that it's whether it's legal or

775
02:51:59,917 --> 02:52:04,655
not. This is a question of perception. And of trust.

776
02:52:04,655 --> 02:52:09,135
And I also want to say that the previous mirror

777
02:52:09,135 --> 02:52:13,935
John Leferbur, who was himself a developer and thus immersed

778
02:52:13,935 --> 02:52:18,255
in the development community, um, as mayor used to recuse

779
02:52:18,295 --> 02:52:23,840
himself regularly. From any decision that involved a campaign donor.

780
02:52:23,840 --> 02:52:28,620
And he did this precisely to maintain Public Confidence. And

781
02:52:28,620 --> 02:52:31,600
this seems to me to be just an eminently sensible

782
02:52:32,021 --> 02:52:36,272
practice as I think the words we heard earlier. Um,

783
02:52:36,853 --> 02:52:39,552
from a member of the public. So if you have

784
02:52:39,573 --> 02:52:45,712
received a donation, a donator's decision comes before Council just

785
02:52:45,712 --> 02:52:50,029
recuse yourself. It's very easy to do. It's honourable thing

786
02:52:50,069 --> 02:52:53,284
to do. It builds public trust. What do you have

787
02:52:53,284 --> 02:52:55,933
to lose. On the other hand, if you really want

788
02:52:55,933 --> 02:52:57,693
to be a part of the vote, you should reflect

789
02:52:57,794 --> 02:53:00,333
on why it's so important for you to be part

790
02:53:00,333 --> 02:53:06,668
of that vote. And. Just to reiterate what the mayor

791
02:53:06,689 --> 02:53:10,108
said, this is, this is not just a theoretical issue

792
02:53:10,209 --> 02:53:13,628
for us. This discussion started because members of the public

793
02:53:13,649 --> 02:53:17,628
were coming to this chamber and publicly naming councillors on

794
02:53:17,668 --> 02:53:21,788
this Council who have taken donations and then participated in

795
02:53:22,449 --> 02:53:27,308
votes that were brought by the person who donated the

796
02:53:27,348 --> 02:53:33,418
money. Clearly this issue was and is alive one for

797
02:53:33,458 --> 02:53:37,478
us in terms of undermining the public faith and the

798
02:53:37,478 --> 02:53:41,247
fairness of decision making. So I think a policy like

799
02:53:41,287 --> 02:53:45,889
this will protect. All of us. From such accusations and

800
02:53:45,929 --> 02:53:49,249
will protect the integrity of Council in the, in the

801
02:53:49,249 --> 02:53:52,849
public trust. So I am with the mirror and I

802
02:53:52,889 --> 02:53:55,969
would highly urge you all of you to support this

803
02:53:55,969 --> 02:54:05,038
motion. Councillor Hawk. Oh. What. If you're called.

804
02:54:06,860 --> 02:54:10,400
Council Hoglin Councillor Stash. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I understand

805
02:54:10,501 --> 02:54:15,360
everything you said Councillor Justice. Now where I sit here

806
02:54:15,360 --> 02:54:18,160
and look at this is people do get donations from

807
02:54:18,741 --> 02:54:23,571
committees. Who are against a lot of development. So, um,

808
02:54:23,932 --> 02:54:30,018
those decision making is also can be. Suede, I guess.

809
02:54:31,579 --> 02:54:34,181
From land development. And so this is where I have

810
02:54:34,221 --> 02:54:39,141
a hard time with, um, being pinpointed every time someone

811
02:54:39,181 --> 02:54:43,837
brings it up. And, uh, I was new to running

812
02:54:44,178 --> 02:54:47,677
for Council and I had a financial agent and I

813
02:54:47,677 --> 02:54:50,077
had e - transfers come through. I had no access

814
02:54:50,117 --> 02:54:53,037
to. I don't know people's names. I didn't know who

815
02:54:53,058 --> 02:54:58,877
they were. It doesn't say a company. And I'm amazing.

816
02:54:58,877 --> 02:55:02,317
Sorry. Thank you everyone for donations, but I'm easily even

817
02:55:02,357 --> 02:55:04,557
500 dollar donation is not going to make me want

818
02:55:04,597 --> 02:55:07,597
to ruin or do something bad to the community that

819
02:55:07,597 --> 02:55:10,317
I grew up in and was born and raised here.

820
02:55:10,317 --> 02:55:12,077
And I have so much care for it. And that's

821
02:55:12,077 --> 02:55:14,797
why I'm sitting at this table. So, um, it's very

822
02:55:14,898 --> 02:55:22,544
frustrating. Thank you. Council, Stash. Thanks Mayor. Thank you. How'd

823
02:55:22,544 --> 02:55:25,984
you tell you? You missed my second hand pump when

824
02:55:26,165 --> 02:55:31,526
I seconded it. So that's no worries. Yeah. Tough thing

825
02:55:31,526 --> 02:55:33,526
I've always had with elections. I don't like the fact

826
02:55:33,566 --> 02:55:36,566
that often in some cases, I'm glad Canada has good

827
02:55:36,987 --> 02:55:40,246
laws to keep the value low. But I've never appreciated

828
02:55:40,267 --> 02:55:43,606
the fact that sometimes elections are decided on who's the

829
02:55:43,606 --> 02:55:46,886
best fundraiser and who can spend the most money. So,

830
02:55:46,886 --> 02:55:49,606
um, as I've said when this discussion first came up,

831
02:55:49,606 --> 02:55:53,766
I made all attempts last election to collect nothing and

832
02:55:53,806 --> 02:55:56,886
spend nothing. And I've, uh, in honour of what you've

833
02:55:56,886 --> 02:56:00,646
done here to show that extra level transparency that I

834
02:56:00,646 --> 02:56:04,246
think is, um, a responsibility of the public I shared

835
02:56:04,427 --> 02:56:09,206
all of my financial documents online. And, uh, furthermore, when

836
02:56:09,227 --> 02:56:12,726
you first brought this motion forward at that point, I

837
02:56:12,827 --> 02:56:16,886
started disclosing at meetings where, uh, that I had, if

838
02:56:16,886 --> 02:56:19,606
I had met with anybody that was building or in

839
02:56:19,646 --> 02:56:22,646
the development community, because often they want to share what

840
02:56:23,387 --> 02:56:26,806
they're doing. And their perspective, uh, they do that through

841
02:56:26,846 --> 02:56:29,126
emails. And sometimes they want to meet for coffee and

842
02:56:29,126 --> 02:56:31,806
chat as, you know, we do with any residents. So

843
02:56:31,806 --> 02:56:33,926
I've shared them in that same equity as residents that

844
02:56:33,966 --> 02:56:36,726
I would afford to anybody else. But what I chose

845
02:56:36,766 --> 02:56:39,206
to do was disclose them. So as we saw with

846
02:56:39,467 --> 02:56:42,246
the Grant Road OCP amendment, I said that I had

847
02:56:42,286 --> 02:56:45,206
met with that property owner, uh, I mean, I did

848
02:56:45,387 --> 02:56:48,886
ultimately vote against that OCP amendment. And then, uh, I

849
02:56:49,067 --> 02:56:52,886
didn't mention that I had met with Wes Vista property

850
02:56:53,067 --> 02:56:56,246
owners as people with the community invested interests in the

851
02:56:56,286 --> 02:56:58,806
community. I felt it was fair to meet with them.

852
02:56:58,806 --> 02:57:01,446
Uh, I disclosed that. There was no requirement, but I

853
02:57:01,486 --> 02:57:04,126
thought what you had brought forward at that time. I

854
02:57:04,126 --> 02:57:07,586
figured I would just personally implement the policy myself. And

855
02:57:07,787 --> 02:57:10,566
I, it's, uh, as Council of Justice said, it's pretty

856
02:57:10,566 --> 02:57:13,446
easy to do. You just state it, um, there was

857
02:57:13,446 --> 02:57:16,406
no pecuniary interest or conflict of interest there. So I

858
02:57:16,446 --> 02:57:19,567
participated in the discussion. Um, but I felt it was

859
02:57:19,607 --> 02:57:22,207
right to share that. So, um, that was the only

860
02:57:22,247 --> 02:57:26,800
reason I was sharing at that time. With this, it

861
02:57:26,800 --> 02:57:29,000
seems pretty straightforward and easy. And I just had a

862
02:57:29,000 --> 02:57:31,800
curiosity though. Would this live as its own policy or

863
02:57:31,840 --> 02:57:35,000
does it fit within our code of conduct policy? Is

864
02:57:35,040 --> 02:57:37,720
this a supplemental to that? Is this where it more

865
02:57:37,760 --> 02:57:41,720
fits? Because the other curiosity of this is this just,

866
02:57:41,760 --> 02:57:45,160
this is just a guiding policy and the, is there

867
02:57:45,160 --> 02:57:47,780
anything that comes up or follows it? I think, um,

868
02:57:47,901 --> 02:57:49,320
as I said, we're going to be able to review

869
02:57:49,341 --> 02:57:52,000
the legal document more and also the Public's going to

870
02:57:52,000 --> 02:57:55,560
be able to see that. But, um, there's no instruments

871
02:57:55,581 --> 02:57:59,400
in here that Council or staff can utilise. And definitely

872
02:57:59,440 --> 02:58:02,360
of course, because, uh, the local government Act is so

873
02:58:02,360 --> 02:58:07,720
strong, um, and utilization of the Umbludsman that's the Publix

874
02:58:07,760 --> 02:58:11,320
recourse, but I'm just curious internally with Council where this

875
02:58:11,320 --> 02:58:15,000
would live. And is we're not, um, assuming that there's

876
02:58:15,040 --> 02:58:17,080
going to be any tools for recourse within it. It's

877
02:58:17,120 --> 02:58:19,880
just a guiding policy. And the onus is on that

878
02:58:19,920 --> 02:58:25,103
individual then. That's so I'm envisioning especially based on the

879
02:58:25,284 --> 02:58:28,063
legal opinion, which noted that there would be challenges in

880
02:58:28,063 --> 02:58:32,063
terms of censure sanctions and enforcing the policy. So what

881
02:58:32,063 --> 02:58:34,383
I would see is changing a lot of the must

882
02:58:34,564 --> 02:58:37,963
- wording to should. And it would be voluntary, but

883
02:58:37,963 --> 02:58:41,743
we would set that standard and expectation. I would hope

884
02:58:41,743 --> 02:58:43,423
around the table and what the public would be that

885
02:58:43,444 --> 02:58:45,983
we would all follow with. In terms of the code

886
02:58:45,983 --> 02:58:48,383
of conduct, because that is now a bylaw that would,

887
02:58:48,383 --> 02:58:50,223
um, it would be much more of a process with

888
02:58:50,223 --> 02:58:53,223
that. I think it's something we could consider. Again, it

889
02:58:53,223 --> 02:58:56,623
would be difficult to enforce. But, um, my understanding is

890
02:58:56,663 --> 02:58:58,623
we are going to, our Council is going to be

891
02:58:58,623 --> 02:59:01,223
reviewing the code economic bylaw next year. And that may

892
02:59:01,223 --> 02:59:03,503
be a opportunity to consider how we may want to

893
02:59:03,543 --> 02:59:06,823
incorporate some of these, uh, ideas into that bylaw. So

894
02:59:07,124 --> 02:59:10,443
the interim is the thought as the standalone policy. Um,

895
02:59:10,644 --> 02:59:16,376
and then lack, quick clarification for you. In my willingness

896
02:59:16,416 --> 02:59:19,885
to support the discussion right away. I thought we were

897
02:59:20,466 --> 02:59:22,765
carrying on from our last meeting that we were going

898
02:59:22,765 --> 02:59:25,005
to go with recommendation too. Was it recommendation one or

899
02:59:25,026 --> 02:59:30,433
two. I understand Council of Justice moved recommendation number one.

900
02:59:30,854 --> 02:59:33,153
Because was his recommendation not on the floor and we

901
02:59:33,153 --> 02:59:36,273
just paused it? Or it was his, his original amendment

902
02:59:36,294 --> 02:59:41,764
withdrawn. Yeah. So what happened there? Um, was Council Justice

903
02:59:41,785 --> 02:59:46,164
read out his suggested alternative motion. We didn't actually move

904
02:59:46,585 --> 02:59:49,044
in seconded at that point as accounts. We decided just

905
02:59:49,044 --> 02:59:53,124
to refer both the original motion and his suggested alternative

906
02:59:53,164 --> 02:59:56,070
to the next meeting for discussion. So it hasn't actually

907
02:59:56,070 --> 02:59:59,350
been moved or seconded yet. Okay. The alternative that is

908
03:00:00,091 --> 03:00:02,630
what's so then, cause that's kind of what Council of

909
03:00:02,630 --> 03:00:05,270
Justice was trying to do was find, um, ZU spoke

910
03:00:05,270 --> 03:00:08,790
to is you're okay to find language that meets the

911
03:00:08,811 --> 03:00:12,230
legal kind of supports legal document a little bit more,

912
03:00:12,230 --> 03:00:15,950
but isn't as watered down as Councillor's justices motion. So

913
03:00:16,171 --> 03:00:19,170
your intent is to stay with the original recommendation, but

914
03:00:19,291 --> 03:00:23,910
change the very strong language to more the kind of

915
03:00:23,950 --> 03:00:27,682
the spirit that Council of Justice was bringing. Yeah. That

916
03:00:27,722 --> 03:00:30,162
would be my expectation is that if this did pass

917
03:00:30,503 --> 03:00:32,882
comes back to Council Paul as a policy that it

918
03:00:32,922 --> 03:00:37,602
would, uh, incorporate some of the, um, feedback. Legal Council.

919
03:00:37,602 --> 03:00:38,962
Because if so then if it passed, it still has

920
03:00:38,962 --> 03:00:40,722
to come back for first and second reading. And through

921
03:00:40,743 --> 03:00:42,962
first and second reading, there can be proposed amendments to

922
03:00:42,962 --> 03:00:47,189
that then. Yeah. I would envision it as a policy.

923
03:00:47,189 --> 03:00:49,829
So we wouldn't necessarily have to go through the four

924
03:00:49,869 --> 03:00:51,669
readings on that if it is a policy. Although if

925
03:00:51,669 --> 03:00:54,309
we didn't eventually decide to incorporate something along these lines

926
03:00:54,810 --> 03:00:57,589
and our code conduct bylaw, then we would, uh, be

927
03:00:57,589 --> 03:01:00,389
looking at for a second, third rig an adoption. Okay.

928
03:01:00,570 --> 03:01:04,149
Um, I feel comfortable with that, but I'd maybe like

929
03:01:04,149 --> 03:01:07,029
to hear from Council of Justice. Council Cow, your next,

930
03:01:07,029 --> 03:01:09,029
can he jump in quick to respond to that or

931
03:01:09,029 --> 03:01:13,565
do you want to speak next. Okay. Quickly. Yeah. Just

932
03:01:13,586 --> 03:01:17,965
to that, I think the, what I brought forward was

933
03:01:18,146 --> 03:01:21,725
only relative to one part of this, which was the

934
03:01:21,986 --> 03:01:25,461
recusal part. And really, I think the main point of

935
03:01:25,562 --> 03:01:31,221
that was it was adding some language that was making

936
03:01:31,322 --> 03:01:35,941
this about anybody with a financial interest, not just developers

937
03:01:36,202 --> 03:01:38,901
who are one sort of person with a financial interest

938
03:01:38,901 --> 03:01:41,461
in a land use decision. But the second part of

939
03:01:41,461 --> 03:01:46,581
it was that it was, um, the idea in there

940
03:01:46,621 --> 03:01:51,221
was that if councillors did consider, um, the necessity of

941
03:01:51,562 --> 03:01:55,861
a recusal having received a donation, um, that then they

942
03:01:55,901 --> 03:02:01,621
would have to publicly disclose the reasons why they were

943
03:02:01,882 --> 03:02:06,581
or were not deciding to recuse themselves and explain why

944
03:02:06,602 --> 03:02:10,341
it was in the public interest. So it was sort

945
03:02:10,341 --> 03:02:12,901
of a refinement in many ways, but it didn't deal

946
03:02:12,941 --> 03:02:17,221
with the entire picture. The Councillor Calio. Oh, it's just

947
03:02:17,261 --> 03:02:19,555
wavy. Mr. Mayor, I just want to point out that

948
03:02:19,595 --> 03:02:22,115
the motion is very directive that this is a policy

949
03:02:22,155 --> 03:02:25,163
that you're adopting. If you want staff to bring back

950
03:02:25,203 --> 03:02:29,243
something, you need to make the motion provide that direction.

951
03:02:31,568 --> 03:02:37,857
So Swaby Council Callew. Thanks to your patience. Yeah. Thanks,

952
03:02:37,897 --> 03:02:47,604
Mayor. We just had a legal. Decision made, uh, the

953
03:02:47,705 --> 03:02:52,884
mayor's motion. Um, I'm not quite sure where we're going

954
03:02:52,884 --> 03:02:55,844
with this right now. It seems to me like this

955
03:02:56,505 --> 03:03:02,616
is looking up to referral. Uh, sorry, a deferral, what

956
03:03:02,656 --> 03:03:04,736
it looks like to me till after the election. So

957
03:03:04,736 --> 03:03:07,256
this is going to hang in the air for, until

958
03:03:07,357 --> 03:03:13,079
after that. And the thing is. That being the case

959
03:03:14,380 --> 03:03:18,039
since your original motion had a legal opinion, which basically

960
03:03:18,380 --> 03:03:23,775
said, um. It could not move forward. Um, you've already

961
03:03:23,796 --> 03:03:26,415
spoke to the fact that you've decided to change the

962
03:03:26,436 --> 03:03:29,184
language in your own motion. So that cannot come out

963
03:03:29,285 --> 03:03:33,432
until after the election. Um, because this is the last

964
03:03:33,432 --> 03:03:38,312
meeting until that is done. And the next Council, whoever

965
03:03:38,352 --> 03:03:42,039
they may be will be looking at your motion. Um,

966
03:03:43,100 --> 03:03:49,232
in the future. So. I'm looking at Councillor Justice's motion

967
03:03:49,413 --> 03:03:52,672
and I'm wondering because of the legal opinion that we

968
03:03:52,773 --> 03:03:55,712
got on your emotion, I think that we need a

969
03:03:55,712 --> 03:03:58,626
legal opinion on his motion. Mr. Mayor, can I just

970
03:03:58,626 --> 03:04:03,937
clarify Councillor Justice's motion doesn't exist. It's not on the

971
03:04:03,937 --> 03:04:07,137
table. What has first and second reading is the mayor's

972
03:04:07,177 --> 03:04:09,457
motion as written in the agenda. That has first and

973
03:04:09,478 --> 03:04:12,986
second reading now. You're debating whether you're going to approve

974
03:04:13,026 --> 03:04:21,178
that motion. As it's written. Councillor Calculate. DeMair has already

975
03:04:21,178 --> 03:04:23,178
spoken to the fact that he wants to change language

976
03:04:23,359 --> 03:04:27,431
in his own motion. So that means we'll have to

977
03:04:27,431 --> 03:04:32,497
be deferred until after the election. What I'd suggest is,

978
03:04:32,497 --> 03:04:34,257
um, so we've got a couple options here. You mentioned

979
03:04:34,598 --> 03:04:37,457
deferral. So you can certainly move that we defer further

980
03:04:37,457 --> 03:04:41,377
consideration this to the next regular Council meeting, which would

981
03:04:41,377 --> 03:04:44,657
be in, you know, third week in November. Um, the

982
03:04:44,697 --> 03:04:48,017
other thing we could consider is to amend the motion

983
03:04:48,017 --> 03:04:49,857
on the floor. And we would just be basically changing

984
03:04:49,897 --> 03:04:53,537
the first sentence. So that would be Council direct stat

985
03:04:53,558 --> 03:04:58,737
to develop policy based on the following resolution. Um, incorporating

986
03:04:58,777 --> 03:05:03,297
the feedback from Council during the, uh, September 2nd meeting.

987
03:05:03,297 --> 03:05:06,557
So I would address issues around changing the must, the

988
03:05:06,557 --> 03:05:11,186
should, for example. Or clearly defining a developer, someone with

989
03:05:11,226 --> 03:05:13,906
an interest in a land use related matter? I'm just

990
03:05:13,927 --> 03:05:17,586
wondering how this can move forward after the legal opinion

991
03:05:17,586 --> 03:05:21,732
that we had from our council. This is, this is

992
03:05:21,913 --> 03:05:26,612
not. Well, then stop us from having a voluntary policy.

993
03:05:27,829 --> 03:05:33,688
The issue is, um, censoring and sanctions. And remember, the

994
03:05:33,688 --> 03:05:36,588
legal opinion focused much of its attention on whether it

995
03:05:36,588 --> 03:05:40,108
was legal or not to make a campaign contribution and

996
03:05:40,108 --> 03:05:41,868
have that Councillor vote on the matter, which was never

997
03:05:41,969 --> 03:05:44,348
actually a question raised around this table. I think we've

998
03:05:44,388 --> 03:05:47,388
all understood over the last year that's perfectly legal to

999
03:05:48,609 --> 03:05:51,228
accept a donation and to vote on that. And so,

1000
03:05:51,228 --> 03:05:53,308
I mean, that's a bit unfortunate. I think the legal

1001
03:05:53,489 --> 03:05:56,988
analysis, it's helpful in many ways, but kind of miss

1002
03:05:57,009 --> 03:05:58,908
the mark on that one point because that wasn't a

1003
03:05:58,929 --> 03:06:03,068
contentious aspect of it that we debated last year.

1004
03:06:08,845 --> 03:06:11,544
So I mean, based on what you're seeing Councillor Cawy,

1005
03:06:11,544 --> 03:06:13,384
I'd suggest we either. What I'm saying is I think

1006
03:06:13,384 --> 03:06:16,264
the public needs to see that legal decision, that legal

1007
03:06:16,304 --> 03:06:20,344
decision from our lawyers, which cost us a fair amount

1008
03:06:20,384 --> 03:06:26,299
of money to have that done. Um. Before. This decision

1009
03:06:26,320 --> 03:06:29,367
is made. Do you want to move deferral? I will

1010
03:06:29,367 --> 03:06:32,734
move to furl. Okay. So moving to defer. To the

1011
03:06:32,915 --> 03:06:36,014
first regular meeting and regular meeting of November in November.

1012
03:06:36,014 --> 03:06:39,454
Yeah. All right. It's moved. Is there a second by

1013
03:06:39,494 --> 03:06:44,306
Councillor Manass. So discussion on the deferral. Council of Justice.

1014
03:06:47,908 --> 03:06:50,847
Just to the logic that the Public needs to see

1015
03:06:51,028 --> 03:06:55,487
this legal document before we decide. Um, Council is actually

1016
03:06:55,588 --> 03:07:00,287
the, uh, decision making body and the, um, Public might

1017
03:07:00,327 --> 03:07:02,287
have some interest in it. But I think that the

1018
03:07:02,388 --> 03:07:08,687
points that the, uh, mayor has made, um, will hold,

1019
03:07:08,687 --> 03:07:13,487
um, this legal opinion doesn't have anything to say about

1020
03:07:14,148 --> 03:07:19,166
the appropriateness of this policy. We already knew exactly what

1021
03:07:19,267 --> 03:07:23,086
it told us, which was that the Community Charte does

1022
03:07:23,086 --> 03:07:30,549
not prohibit this behaviour. So on deferral, any further debate

1023
03:07:30,570 --> 03:07:33,287
or do we want to call the question. Call the

1024
03:07:33,287 --> 03:07:36,967
question. So to defer the motion on the floor to

1025
03:07:37,007 --> 03:07:40,886
the first regular meeting in November, all in favor. And

1026
03:07:40,886 --> 03:07:44,006
opposed motion carries with the mayor Council of Stash and

1027
03:07:44,046 --> 03:07:49,755
Council Justice opposed. All right. That concludes that. We're now

1028
03:07:49,856 --> 03:07:55,781
going to move on to. Phylaws. Turn to the corporate

1029
03:07:55,821 --> 03:08:02,218
officer. Thank you Mayor. So intercommunity business license bylaw number

1030
03:08:02,559 --> 03:08:06,298
4075 is before Council for Adoption. All the pre -

1031
03:08:06,298 --> 03:08:09,498
adoption conditions have been satisfied. So Council may now proceed

1032
03:08:09,538 --> 03:08:14,058
with adoption. The recommendation is that Council adopts intercommunity business

1033
03:08:14,319 --> 03:08:19,028
license bylaw number 4075 2026. Some like to move that.

1034
03:08:19,028 --> 03:08:21,828
Mut by Council Justice. Second by Councillor Finley. Any discussion.

1035
03:08:21,828 --> 03:08:23,988
Call the question all in favor and oppose and oppose

1036
03:08:24,009 --> 03:08:28,346
motion carries. We'll now move on item 10. 2. Fire

1037
03:08:28,386 --> 03:08:32,986
safety amendment bylaw 4088 is before Council for Adoption and

1038
03:08:33,087 --> 03:08:36,506
all of the pre - adoption conditions have been satisfied.

1039
03:08:36,506 --> 03:08:40,586
The recommendation is that Council adopts fire safety amendment bylaw

1040
03:08:40,586 --> 03:08:44,991
number 4088 2026. Move by Councillor Calio, seconded by Councillor

1041
03:08:44,991 --> 03:08:47,231
Finley. Any discussion. I'll call the question all in favor.

1042
03:08:47,805 --> 03:08:50,104
And oppose and oppose motion carries. We might move on

1043
03:08:50,144 --> 03:08:54,904
item 10. 3 Road naming bylaw 4086 is also before

1044
03:08:55,165 --> 03:08:57,944
Council for Adoption and all of the pre - adoption

1045
03:08:58,045 --> 03:09:01,784
conditions have been met. The recommendation is that Council adopts

1046
03:09:02,125 --> 03:09:07,704
road naming bylaw bull rush and salishin streets number 4086

1047
03:09:07,885 --> 03:09:11,304
2026. Move by Council Justice. Second by Councillor Cali. You

1048
03:09:11,344 --> 03:09:13,304
want any discussion. I'll call the question all in favor

1049
03:09:14,045 --> 03:09:16,424
and oppose and oppose motion carries. We'll now move on

1050
03:09:16,424 --> 03:09:20,104
to the final byla item 10. 4 tax sale redemption

1051
03:09:20,125 --> 03:09:25,704
period extension by allow 4091 is being introduced to Council

1052
03:09:25,744 --> 03:09:28,904
tonight. If adopted the Bylaw would allow the former owners

1053
03:09:28,904 --> 03:09:32,104
of two properties purchased by North Couch and at the

1054
03:09:32,285 --> 03:09:36,104
2025 annual tax sale. And additional year to redeem their

1055
03:09:36,125 --> 03:09:39,784
properties. The recommendation is that Council Give first, second and

1056
03:09:39,824 --> 03:09:44,024
third readings to tax sale, redemption period, extension bylaw number

1057
03:09:44,285 --> 03:09:51,522
4091 2026 Councillor Finley. Thanks Mr. Mary. I'm curious why,

1058
03:09:51,562 --> 03:09:54,002
why we're dating on these two properties. It's the process

1059
03:09:54,263 --> 03:09:56,242
has always been there that it's a one year redemption.

1060
03:09:56,242 --> 03:09:58,562
So I'm just curious why we'd offer a second year

1061
03:09:58,583 --> 03:10:03,008
other than we're nice. Mr. Corson. Yeah. Thanks for your

1062
03:10:03,008 --> 03:10:05,248
worship. Um, so the reason here is to give the

1063
03:10:05,589 --> 03:10:08,448
give the people another year. These are properties that we

1064
03:10:08,448 --> 03:10:12,862
don't necessarily want to inherit. Um, they're complicated. So we'd

1065
03:10:12,862 --> 03:10:15,982
be taking on potential liabilities. So our preference would be

1066
03:10:16,003 --> 03:10:19,182
for the owners to have as much time to redeem

1067
03:10:19,182 --> 03:10:24,270
these. So move by Councillor Manass, seconded by Councillor Calio.

1068
03:10:24,270 --> 03:10:27,070
Any discussion. Call the question all in favor and oppose

1069
03:10:27,251 --> 03:10:31,230
and oppose motion carries. We'll now move on to reports.

1070
03:10:31,230 --> 03:10:34,670
Um, 11. 1, the notice on title for 3425 River

1071
03:10:34,670 --> 03:10:38,567
Road. Thank you Mr. Mayor. This is, uh, as you

1072
03:10:38,567 --> 03:10:42,807
stated a report to consider authorizing the filling of a

1073
03:10:42,807 --> 03:10:46,487
notice untitled for the property located at 3425 River Road.

1074
03:10:46,487 --> 03:10:49,847
And accordance with section 57 of the Community Charter due

1075
03:10:49,868 --> 03:10:53,447
to the owner's failure to obtain required building and occupancy

1076
03:10:53,548 --> 03:10:58,007
permits unlawfully development unlawful development with the riparian assessment area

1077
03:10:58,908 --> 03:11:03,287
and multiple contributions of the North Cowching zoning and building

1078
03:11:03,287 --> 03:11:10,543
regulations, including parking landscaping and shipping container requirements. The recommendation

1079
03:11:10,543 --> 03:11:14,463
is that after providing the building inspector and the owner

1080
03:11:14,484 --> 03:11:18,703
of 3425 River Road an opportunity to be heard, Council

1081
03:11:18,743 --> 03:11:21,903
confirms the recommendation of the building inspector and authorizes the

1082
03:11:22,004 --> 03:11:24,703
corporate officer to fell and notice on land titles against

1083
03:11:24,743 --> 03:11:28,303
the title of the property located at 3425 River Road

1084
03:11:28,484 --> 03:11:31,743
pursuant to section 57. 3 of the Community Charter for

1085
03:11:31,924 --> 03:11:35,983
contraventions of the Building Regulations due to unresolved billion infractions.

1086
03:11:35,983 --> 03:11:38,703
And further the notice state one that the resolution relating

1087
03:11:38,703 --> 03:11:41,503
to the land has been made under Section 57 of

1088
03:11:41,543 --> 03:11:44,623
the Community Charter and two that further information about it

1089
03:11:44,724 --> 03:11:48,093
may be inspected at the Municipal Hall. All right. So

1090
03:11:48,194 --> 03:11:51,293
first I'd like to all come up our building inspector,

1091
03:11:51,293 --> 03:11:59,020
Chris Druin of the podium. Good evening Mayor Council. Thank

1092
03:11:59,020 --> 03:12:04,019
you. I haven't prepared anything to discuss. So I move

1093
03:12:04,059 --> 03:12:05,459
on to you guys by the report. I'm open to

1094
03:12:05,480 --> 03:12:08,259
questions. Um, but I do recommend that this, uh, that

1095
03:12:08,299 --> 03:12:13,479
you confirm the recommendation. All right. New members of Council

1096
03:12:13,519 --> 03:12:18,982
have any questions for cheap building inspector. Seeing none. Thank

1097
03:12:18,982 --> 03:12:22,548
you. Thank you. All right. And I'd like to welcome

1098
03:12:22,548 --> 03:12:24,708
up the owner to the podium.

1099
03:12:36,173 --> 03:12:40,212
Mayor and Council. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, thank

1100
03:12:40,212 --> 03:12:43,812
you for the opportunity to address Council and Mayor. My

1101
03:12:43,852 --> 03:12:46,612
name is Chantal Clark. I'm the chief financial officer at

1102
03:12:46,633 --> 03:12:49,732
West Coast PREFA. I'm speaking today on behalf of the

1103
03:12:49,833 --> 03:12:53,412
property owner, Adrian Crisp regarding the staff's recommendation to register

1104
03:12:53,673 --> 03:12:56,772
a notice on title under Section 57 of the Community

1105
03:12:56,873 --> 03:13:01,414
Charter. I would like to begin by emphasizing we are

1106
03:13:01,414 --> 03:13:05,094
not disputing the need to achieve compliance. We recognise the

1107
03:13:05,195 --> 03:13:13,070
responsibilities and remain committed. To addressing all outstanding matters. West

1108
03:13:13,070 --> 03:13:19,704
Coast Prefab. Has operated in the Couch and Valley for

1109
03:13:19,744 --> 03:13:23,864
more than 20 years as a mechanical forestry company for

1110
03:13:23,904 --> 03:13:28,249
the bullpen paper sector. We employ more than 120 full

1111
03:13:28,350 --> 03:13:33,187
- time staff, including engineers. Tradespeople, project managers, CSOs and

1112
03:13:33,187 --> 03:13:37,667
QCs and professional administrators, not including the over 350 casual

1113
03:13:37,688 --> 03:13:43,664
workers. Last year alone, I completed 478 T4s. We live

1114
03:13:43,704 --> 03:13:46,844
here. We work here. We raise our families here. And

1115
03:13:46,844 --> 03:13:49,344
we contribute to this community every day. The people affected

1116
03:13:49,525 --> 03:13:52,224
by this decision are not numbers on a page. There

1117
03:13:52,264 --> 03:13:55,344
are employees, our neighbours, our friends. And the families who

1118
03:13:55,365 --> 03:13:58,958
depend on these jobs. Progress being made. We met with

1119
03:13:58,998 --> 03:14:03,739
the municipal staff on July 9th. The beginning of the

1120
03:14:03,779 --> 03:14:06,139
meeting was tough, but at the end of the meeting,

1121
03:14:06,139 --> 03:14:10,859
we came together with a very complex amount of work

1122
03:14:10,899 --> 03:14:14,321
that needed to be achieved. We committed to that. But

1123
03:14:14,342 --> 03:14:18,081
we also made clear that there was certain timelines that

1124
03:14:18,102 --> 03:14:20,961
were out of our control. Since then, we have submitted

1125
03:14:21,062 --> 03:14:25,499
building permits. Applications we've updated a survey work. We've completed

1126
03:14:25,760 --> 03:14:30,139
an environmental assessment through qualified professionals. We've advanced the condition

1127
03:14:30,320 --> 03:14:34,539
and impact assessment process continued engineering and draft working on

1128
03:14:34,579 --> 03:14:39,011
the remaining structures. Worked closely with planning, building, met with

1129
03:14:39,032 --> 03:14:43,335
bylaws staff. Arrange for the relocation of RITCO units affected

1130
03:14:43,436 --> 03:14:48,115
by the CEPA boundaries serve notice on our RV. Um,

1131
03:14:49,196 --> 03:14:52,375
the RV that was in noncompliance. I'm assuming most people

1132
03:14:52,636 --> 03:14:57,857
have read the notes that were attached. Um, he is

1133
03:14:57,857 --> 03:14:59,617
going to be leaving the property by the end of

1134
03:14:59,617 --> 03:15:02,577
the month. We have said that he is not allowed

1135
03:15:02,617 --> 03:15:07,441
to stay on the property after October 31st. Try to

1136
03:15:07,441 --> 03:15:10,081
go as fast as I can. The compliance effort extend

1137
03:15:10,102 --> 03:15:13,761
far beyond the permits currently under review and include significant

1138
03:15:13,942 --> 03:15:18,615
environmental engineering, planning and permitted work. We ask you consider

1139
03:15:18,636 --> 03:15:23,575
that section 57 was intended to address building safety concerns.

1140
03:15:23,575 --> 03:15:28,190
We understand that it's a starting point. To our knowledge,

1141
03:15:28,230 --> 03:15:31,630
no professional retained by ownership has concluded that the structure

1142
03:15:31,651 --> 03:15:35,390
presents an immediate risk to public safety. And it is

1143
03:15:35,411 --> 03:15:39,150
not a case where the property owner has ignored municipal

1144
03:15:39,251 --> 03:15:43,830
requirements or refused to pursue compliance on the contrary. We

1145
03:15:43,830 --> 03:15:50,350
have retired, retired, or we have to trained retained engineers,

1146
03:15:50,350 --> 03:15:55,870
supervisors, environmental professionals and consultants submitted applications completed substantial studies

1147
03:15:56,211 --> 03:16:02,350
and assessments invested amounts of resources over 25, 000 dollars

1148
03:16:02,771 --> 03:16:04,750
in the last three months. We've spent on this process

1149
03:16:05,011 --> 03:16:13,569
not including our time. What matters is the condition of

1150
03:16:13,609 --> 03:16:18,311
the impact assessment. Is still underway and will provide important

1151
03:16:18,351 --> 03:16:23,071
information for a final path to compliance. Council, I want

1152
03:16:23,071 --> 03:16:25,871
to be candid. The last year has been incredibly challenging

1153
03:16:25,892 --> 03:16:29,631
for our business. Our industry and our community. We have

1154
03:16:29,671 --> 03:16:32,991
been dealing with significant changes in the forestry sector while

1155
03:16:33,031 --> 03:16:39,151
also working through engineering reviews and virtual assessments, preparing requirements

1156
03:16:39,652 --> 03:16:42,911
and financial transitions. But our company has always worked its

1157
03:16:42,951 --> 03:16:46,111
way through challenges. We adapt. We solve problems and we

1158
03:16:46,111 --> 03:16:48,495
keep moving. We have not walked away from any of

1159
03:16:48,535 --> 03:16:53,862
our responsibilities. We have continued to invest in compliance. Working

1160
03:16:53,902 --> 03:16:57,302
with staff, investing in our community. At the same time,

1161
03:16:57,302 --> 03:16:59,862
we have focused on building a sustainable future for our

1162
03:16:59,883 --> 03:17:04,262
workforce. We have worked her hard to diverse beyond forestry

1163
03:17:04,363 --> 03:17:09,282
into military defence, marine industry fabrication and public sector. I'm

1164
03:17:09,282 --> 03:17:12,742
proud to say those efforts are producing results. We have

1165
03:17:13,483 --> 03:17:17,302
successfully completed work with organisations such as B. C. ferries,

1166
03:17:17,302 --> 03:17:21,302
B. C. Hydros, Fort SBC, helping replace the lost forestry

1167
03:17:21,342 --> 03:17:25,302
work and support local jobs. Our goal is simple. Achieve

1168
03:17:25,342 --> 03:17:29,942
compliance, preserve more than 120 local jobs and continue contributing

1169
03:17:29,963 --> 03:17:32,742
to the Couch and Valley Economy. We are not asking

1170
03:17:32,763 --> 03:17:35,542
for a waiver. We are not asking for special treatment.

1171
03:17:35,643 --> 03:17:40,691
We are simply asking for three months to complete. A

1172
03:17:40,691 --> 03:17:47,016
very conflict process that is already well underway. With, we

1173
03:17:47,016 --> 03:17:52,896
respectfully request that Council defer the consideration of Section 57

1174
03:17:53,397 --> 03:18:00,394
notice on title. Until December 2nd. December 2nd, 2026 to

1175
03:18:00,394 --> 03:18:05,194
allow the remaining reviews, permit applications, and client compliance work

1176
03:18:05,234 --> 03:18:09,371
to be completed. Thank you for your time, consideration. And

1177
03:18:09,371 --> 03:18:12,591
I would be pleased to answer any questions. Thank you.

1178
03:18:12,591 --> 03:18:21,877
Any questions. Council Justice. Yeah.

1179
03:18:23,775 --> 03:18:28,278
I just. I'm not very familiar with your future plans.

1180
03:18:30,134 --> 03:18:35,793
But there was some indication that there's rumours that you're

1181
03:18:35,833 --> 03:18:40,884
thinking of leaving. That current site and going to another

1182
03:18:40,985 --> 03:18:43,604
site. Can you speak to that at all? Is there

1183
03:18:43,625 --> 03:18:46,644
any truth to this? Do you have plans to move

1184
03:18:46,745 --> 03:18:50,375
to another site. Our plans are to stay where we

1185
03:18:50,375 --> 03:18:57,530
are. We are in negotiations for a second location. Um,

1186
03:18:58,271 --> 03:19:02,650
I have NDAs signed, um, there's a lot of military

1187
03:19:02,671 --> 03:19:06,090
and defence work coming to this area. Um, but what

1188
03:19:06,130 --> 03:19:09,210
we have been doing to get into compliance, we are

1189
03:19:09,250 --> 03:19:12,417
working with TALIS. I'm not sure if. You're, I have

1190
03:19:12,417 --> 03:19:14,857
to be careful what I say. Um, we are controlled

1191
03:19:14,958 --> 03:19:19,717
goods space. We just went through our ISO certification, our

1192
03:19:19,717 --> 03:19:24,297
core certification. We had, um, different groups coming to our

1193
03:19:24,398 --> 03:19:27,177
facility the last two weeks to make sure that our

1194
03:19:27,217 --> 03:19:30,697
facility can now change from forestry to this. We're still

1195
03:19:30,737 --> 03:19:33,977
participating with a lot of forestry work. Carmack is one

1196
03:19:33,977 --> 03:19:37,417
of our largest clients. And you spoke earlier on a

1197
03:19:37,417 --> 03:19:40,217
lot of the potential for the island. Um, that's coming

1198
03:19:40,318 --> 03:19:44,617
this way. Our number one goal right now is to

1199
03:19:44,657 --> 03:19:47,897
get into compliance, ask for a deferment for three months.

1200
03:19:48,638 --> 03:19:50,617
We've got a lot we're doing, but we realise that

1201
03:19:50,798 --> 03:19:53,257
this, we have to follow the rules. We're not asking

1202
03:19:53,358 --> 03:19:59,951
for any favors. Originally, the development for that property was

1203
03:19:59,991 --> 03:20:04,351
going to be pretty significant supporting the Crofton Domtar Mill.

1204
03:20:04,351 --> 03:20:07,711
Unfortunately, that is not going to happen now. Um, a

1205
03:20:07,711 --> 03:20:11,631
lot of the spaces were for, um, drum repairs, which

1206
03:20:11,631 --> 03:20:15,391
we supplied to Haousound, which is now closed last week.

1207
03:20:15,391 --> 03:20:17,631
Um, so that revenue stream and that type of business

1208
03:20:17,671 --> 03:20:20,671
that we were doing is gone also now. Um, but

1209
03:20:21,892 --> 03:20:25,851
we work hard. We find alternatives. We look at, uh,

1210
03:20:25,851 --> 03:20:30,328
different ways at the end of the day. We want

1211
03:20:30,328 --> 03:20:33,768
to keep everybody locally and working. Um, that's always been

1212
03:20:33,789 --> 03:20:36,808
our objective for the last 20 years. Um, these are

1213
03:20:36,989 --> 03:20:42,601
well paying jobs in the community that go far. Great.

1214
03:20:42,601 --> 03:20:46,441
Thank you. Any further questions. It's your mic. Still. No

1215
03:20:46,481 --> 03:20:48,201
further questions, but I would like to speak to this

1216
03:20:48,222 --> 03:20:57,288
after. All right. Thank you, Ms. Clark. Thank you. Uh,

1217
03:20:57,709 --> 03:21:02,968
Councillor Stash, or sorry, Councillor Justice and Councillor Stash. Yeah.

1218
03:21:02,968 --> 03:21:05,048
Um, thank you. Maybe this will be a question for

1219
03:21:05,229 --> 03:21:11,116
staff. Um, there's obviously a number of very significant outstanding

1220
03:21:11,156 --> 03:21:14,293
issues here. Which we've, uh, heard quite a bit about.

1221
03:21:15,759 --> 03:21:20,698
This is obviously complicated by the need to consider the

1222
03:21:20,719 --> 03:21:25,852
circumstances we were dealing with right now. Um, Councillor Galio

1223
03:21:26,433 --> 03:21:30,252
and the mayor, myself sitting on the mill closure response

1224
03:21:30,433 --> 03:21:33,852
working group, certainly have heard quite a bit about the

1225
03:21:34,433 --> 03:21:39,120
forestry industry generally being under significant pressure. And in North

1226
03:21:39,160 --> 03:21:42,480
Couch and it's taking some very serious economic hits that

1227
03:21:42,480 --> 03:21:46,960
we all aware or aware of the milk closure and

1228
03:21:46,960 --> 03:21:53,440
the closure and curtailments of sawmills. So in these times,

1229
03:21:53,440 --> 03:21:57,040
I think we do really need to be vigilant of

1230
03:21:57,080 --> 03:22:04,121
the businesses and jobs. That are important to our community.

1231
03:22:04,121 --> 03:22:06,761
Um, so where there is evidence that an owner is

1232
03:22:06,801 --> 03:22:11,241
making an effort to bring a property into compliance. I

1233
03:22:11,241 --> 03:22:14,121
do think it's reasonable for a council to go the

1234
03:22:14,161 --> 03:22:19,267
extra mile. And trying to figure out some way of,

1235
03:22:19,288 --> 03:22:24,547
of making it work for them. But here's where I'm

1236
03:22:24,587 --> 03:22:28,627
sort of struggling a little bit because we did hear

1237
03:22:28,968 --> 03:22:34,752
from, um. Speaker, not civil. Whose name I've forgotten. Mr.

1238
03:22:34,933 --> 03:22:39,152
John, thank you. Um, you know, quite a long list

1239
03:22:39,152 --> 03:22:42,112
of things that have been done. But I didn't see

1240
03:22:42,213 --> 03:22:46,512
those reflected in the staff report. Oh, sorry from the

1241
03:22:46,552 --> 03:22:53,389
owner, Ms. Clark. Yes. Got up. So if staff could

1242
03:22:53,429 --> 03:22:58,269
help us with that, and it's a complex question to

1243
03:22:58,269 --> 03:23:02,869
ask, but does that reflect what we just heard? Is

1244
03:23:02,869 --> 03:23:08,469
that sort of reflect staff's reality. Mr. Swayer, Mr. Caucus?

1245
03:23:08,570 --> 03:23:13,189
I think that question has, um, has multiple issues associated

1246
03:23:13,229 --> 03:23:16,069
with. And I think our building inspector, chief building inspector.

1247
03:23:16,882 --> 03:23:18,701
Should speak to some of the issues I heard the

1248
03:23:18,741 --> 03:23:22,814
applicant speak to. We can certainly speak to a three

1249
03:23:22,854 --> 03:23:26,254
month deferral would not allow time for a development per

1250
03:23:26,275 --> 03:23:28,814
motion, which is required to be issued. Council won't be

1251
03:23:28,814 --> 03:23:35,537
sitting. Well, I guess you'll be back. So there's multiple

1252
03:23:35,798 --> 03:23:38,877
strings. And Mr. Farkas can remind Council of those, but

1253
03:23:38,877 --> 03:23:41,137
I think the building inspector might want to comment on

1254
03:23:41,177 --> 03:23:44,097
some of the issues that I heard the applicant state

1255
03:23:44,137 --> 03:23:47,457
that had been resolved. Because I'm not sure that you've

1256
03:23:47,497 --> 03:23:52,775
agreed with that. Mr. Farkers and Mr. Joan, someone want

1257
03:23:52,775 --> 03:24:00,607
to. Or Ms. Young, apologies. Thank you. Um, so we,

1258
03:24:00,607 --> 03:24:07,247
um, do have, uh, two incomplete building permit applications for

1259
03:24:07,428 --> 03:24:12,491
two of the eight buildings that are unpermitted. They are,

1260
03:24:12,491 --> 03:24:17,131
as of yet incomplete, applications. And they are incomplete in

1261
03:24:17,131 --> 03:24:20,091
a similar way to applications we receive from them in

1262
03:24:20,091 --> 03:24:26,541
2024. Um, it's, uh, this, this has been ongoing for

1263
03:24:26,562 --> 03:24:29,141
two and a half years. The development permit, we have

1264
03:24:29,141 --> 03:24:31,541
not yet received an application. We did receive a copy

1265
03:24:31,541 --> 03:24:36,001
of their survey and they, of a new survey, the

1266
03:24:36,042 --> 03:24:38,821
spea line is different in that than it is in

1267
03:24:38,861 --> 03:24:43,381
the wrapper that we have from the Development Permit from

1268
03:24:43,421 --> 03:24:48,821
when there were buildings constructed that were permitted. Um, so

1269
03:24:49,322 --> 03:24:53,701
we haven't received the Environmental Reports and such that would

1270
03:24:53,701 --> 03:24:58,321
allow us to understand why that line is different. Um,

1271
03:24:59,082 --> 03:25:05,461
so would there's still a great deal of information outstanding?

1272
03:25:05,461 --> 03:25:10,981
Um, I'd also like to speak to, um, the understanding

1273
03:25:11,242 --> 03:25:15,221
that a Section 57 notice on title is related to

1274
03:25:15,242 --> 03:25:18,341
building safety. It's certainly one measure that we can take

1275
03:25:18,442 --> 03:25:21,141
in relation to building safety, but generally if we had

1276
03:25:21,242 --> 03:25:23,461
reason to believe there was eminent threat to the public

1277
03:25:23,562 --> 03:25:26,581
or to the workers, we would be going with remediation

1278
03:25:26,602 --> 03:25:29,301
order rather than a notice on title, a notice on

1279
03:25:29,341 --> 03:25:36,421
title is more meant to inform, um, potential purchasers, financers,

1280
03:25:36,421 --> 03:25:40,821
et cetera. Anybody that might pull that title, um, that

1281
03:25:40,821 --> 03:25:43,941
the property is not in compliance. It also is not

1282
03:25:43,941 --> 03:25:46,821
written in stone and once compliance is achieved, it can

1283
03:25:46,821 --> 03:25:51,782
be removed. And as practice removed. And Mr. Me, I

1284
03:25:51,782 --> 03:25:56,702
also believe that notices on title help with removing the

1285
03:25:56,963 --> 03:26:00,142
liability to the public for any claims that may be

1286
03:26:00,182 --> 03:26:03,422
made as a result of the building issues that were

1287
03:26:03,443 --> 03:26:07,269
stated that have been built without a permit failing. So

1288
03:26:07,850 --> 03:26:11,029
although we don't think the eminent, you certainly want to

1289
03:26:11,029 --> 03:26:15,029
protect the public from, uh, liability associated with that. Notices

1290
03:26:15,290 --> 03:26:19,669
on title don't prevent the businesses from operating. And they

1291
03:26:19,669 --> 03:26:24,069
don't prevent the owners from actually coming into compliance. They're

1292
03:26:24,090 --> 03:26:27,989
meant as a notice. And as a, uh, check on

1293
03:26:28,029 --> 03:26:36,877
liability issues. Councillor Stache. Thank you Mayor. Um, as this,

1294
03:26:36,877 --> 03:26:40,557
uh, unfortunately Councillor Hog couldn't get the tour because it

1295
03:26:40,597 --> 03:26:43,117
was prior to the Biolection Council had a really great

1296
03:26:43,138 --> 03:26:46,797
tour of West Coast prefab and saw how significant of

1297
03:26:46,818 --> 03:26:49,437
employer they are in the community. How much work they're

1298
03:26:49,477 --> 03:26:53,097
doing and how well run of a facility is. And

1299
03:26:53,138 --> 03:26:57,437
myself having been a, uh, regional operational and facilities manager

1300
03:26:57,437 --> 03:27:01,437
for a large industrial company that had to meet core

1301
03:27:01,477 --> 03:27:06,151
audits in ISO audits. I feel, uh, the strains of

1302
03:27:06,172 --> 03:27:09,671
rapid growth and trying to, uh, build out a facility

1303
03:27:09,772 --> 03:27:11,991
as we did with my company that I worked for.

1304
03:27:11,991 --> 03:27:13,831
We were building a brand new facility in the province

1305
03:27:13,871 --> 03:27:16,471
I lived. And we were trying to meet the demands

1306
03:27:16,511 --> 03:27:21,271
of growth. But, uh, knowing, and I'm using the words

1307
03:27:21,292 --> 03:27:23,431
with the ISO and core audit is we met the

1308
03:27:23,452 --> 03:27:27,751
obligations in that process. Uh, and thinking of companies that

1309
03:27:27,772 --> 03:27:30,871
can meet those type of auditing standards I would feel

1310
03:27:30,972 --> 03:27:33,571
that they should, should, uh, should have the skill set

1311
03:27:34,332 --> 03:27:37,271
and the, the team behind them to meet the requirements.

1312
03:27:37,271 --> 03:27:41,991
So the municipality, um, being building permits, uh, follow kind

1313
03:27:41,991 --> 03:27:45,031
of those same guidelines of getting a core audit and

1314
03:27:45,071 --> 03:27:49,031
especially ISO certification is a very rigorous process. Um, so

1315
03:27:49,292 --> 03:27:52,231
I have all faith that they can accomplish those goals.

1316
03:27:52,231 --> 03:27:55,351
But my question is, and Mr. Sway, you touched on

1317
03:27:55,452 --> 03:27:58,391
it quickly there was that it doesn't impede the operation

1318
03:27:58,431 --> 03:28:01,191
of the company. They can still bid and do their

1319
03:28:01,231 --> 03:28:05,911
work and go on about the daily business and employees

1320
03:28:05,932 --> 03:28:08,851
aren't affected. They can keep doing their good work. But

1321
03:28:08,851 --> 03:28:12,311
how easy is it take to take that, uh, notice

1322
03:28:12,332 --> 03:28:15,251
title off, I guess is just my simple question. Um,

1323
03:28:15,372 --> 03:28:21,191
through all that Mr. Sueve, uh, it says, uh, once

1324
03:28:21,212 --> 03:28:23,831
the work is complete to the satisfaction of the building

1325
03:28:23,871 --> 03:28:27,911
inspector and to the municipality, then we would, um, recommend

1326
03:28:27,932 --> 03:28:35,230
that the notice be removed. Councillor Hog. Thank you Mayor.

1327
03:28:42,108 --> 03:28:45,047
With the notice on title, no, it wouldn't affect the

1328
03:28:45,047 --> 03:28:48,807
employees up front. Um, but they did mention that they

1329
03:28:48,847 --> 03:28:50,967
were trying to look at a second location. And I

1330
03:28:50,967 --> 03:28:55,456
would assume that would affect financial. Barriers with moving forward

1331
03:28:55,877 --> 03:29:02,390
and expansion. As Mrs. Clark stated, they're looking for, they're

1332
03:29:02,390 --> 03:29:06,684
not looking for, um. To be dismissal of it more

1333
03:29:06,684 --> 03:29:12,776
of a three month extension. And, um. I'm wondering if

1334
03:29:12,877 --> 03:29:16,376
I could make a new motion and see if we

1335
03:29:16,376 --> 03:29:21,571
can get seconded and I can talk to it. No

1336
03:29:21,611 --> 03:29:26,072
one's moved to yet though. Yeah. So. I think you

1337
03:29:26,072 --> 03:29:31,517
would just, you would move that we defer. The recommend

1338
03:29:33,698 --> 03:29:35,437
and then however long you want to defer it for.

1339
03:29:35,804 --> 03:29:40,503
Well, I'm happy to, to defer for three months and

1340
03:29:40,543 --> 03:29:44,503
December 2nd, 2026. Okay. So moving to defer the recommendation

1341
03:29:44,543 --> 03:29:48,343
to December 2nd, 2026 that's moved. Is there a seconder?

1342
03:29:48,343 --> 03:29:51,503
Second by Councillor Manhouse. Councillor. Can I speak to us?

1343
03:29:51,543 --> 03:29:56,049
Yeah. For sure. I actually wrote notes. Usually I speak.

1344
03:29:56,499 --> 03:29:58,718
Just from the heart, but today I actually wrote notes.

1345
03:29:59,736 --> 03:30:01,715
As we heard this business has been hit hard with

1346
03:30:02,776 --> 03:30:08,355
hit hardships. And now looking at restructuring due to multiple

1347
03:30:08,456 --> 03:30:11,395
meal closures, it's three month extension doesn't mean we are

1348
03:30:11,435 --> 03:30:14,755
accepting the noncompliance. It simply provides amount a small amount

1349
03:30:14,856 --> 03:30:19,526
of time to comply. It still gives a solid timeline

1350
03:30:19,547 --> 03:30:27,916
for compliance. Without the implications that notice on title would

1351
03:30:27,916 --> 03:30:32,282
might cause the business due to financing. As they're looking

1352
03:30:32,322 --> 03:30:36,342
to restructure and keeping over the 120 people employed. And

1353
03:30:36,342 --> 03:30:44,465
as we just heard more contractors. We sit here at

1354
03:30:44,465 --> 03:30:46,285
the table and we do want to be fair. And

1355
03:30:46,285 --> 03:30:48,865
we've done this before. I've nervous sat here for a

1356
03:30:48,865 --> 03:30:50,845
notice on title, but we've done this before for, um.

1357
03:30:52,114 --> 03:30:54,473
The houses on York Street and push things forward, the

1358
03:30:54,473 --> 03:31:00,011
fencing. This is a big employer in the North Cowlich

1359
03:31:00,192 --> 03:31:05,043
and, um. I just, I want to see them succeed.

1360
03:31:06,331 --> 03:31:10,230
And if they can move forward with this, and you

1361
03:31:10,230 --> 03:31:11,990
know what, if it's not done by December 2nd, then

1362
03:31:11,990 --> 03:31:13,670
we have the notion title. But we get in a

1363
03:31:13,670 --> 03:31:17,110
little bit of room to comply. And there is a

1364
03:31:17,211 --> 03:31:21,430
timeline of pressure on them. So I am very hopeful

1365
03:31:21,531 --> 03:31:24,604
we can get support beyond that. Thank you. Councilman House

1366
03:31:24,705 --> 03:31:27,324
and then Councillor Finley. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah.

1367
03:31:27,425 --> 03:31:32,264
I agree with everything that Councillor Hag just mentioned. And

1368
03:31:32,264 --> 03:31:35,484
it looks like these folks are moving forward towards compliance.

1369
03:31:35,484 --> 03:31:37,464
Um, it may have taken a couple of years, but

1370
03:31:37,825 --> 03:31:39,784
they're moving forward at least now. So I think, um,

1371
03:31:39,905 --> 03:31:43,384
it's, it's a start. And I think, well, let's see

1372
03:31:43,585 --> 03:31:46,344
what three months what get done in three months. And

1373
03:31:46,344 --> 03:31:48,684
then we'll go from there. So I support the three

1374
03:31:48,785 --> 03:31:54,673
month extension Councillor Finley. Thanks Mr. Mayor. I think if

1375
03:31:54,713 --> 03:31:57,073
it was business as usual out there with, with Croft

1376
03:31:57,414 --> 03:31:59,393
and how sounds still going, I wouldn't be in favor

1377
03:31:59,393 --> 03:32:02,593
of this in any way. But this is from what

1378
03:32:02,593 --> 03:32:05,313
sounds like a significant, uh, impact to this, uh, to

1379
03:32:05,353 --> 03:32:09,393
this company, uh, local small business. Well, maybe not medium

1380
03:32:09,414 --> 03:32:11,793
sized business, large business, 120 employees. It's pretty big for

1381
03:32:11,833 --> 03:32:15,473
our valley. Um, so I think if they, if they

1382
03:32:15,494 --> 03:32:19,713
weren't going along the process, um, with business as usual,

1383
03:32:19,713 --> 03:32:21,473
I would not be in favor of this extension. But,

1384
03:32:21,473 --> 03:32:23,233
uh, the way things are going now with how sound

1385
03:32:23,654 --> 03:32:26,793
and, and Crofton and other mills that seem to be

1386
03:32:26,854 --> 03:32:29,153
curtailing and closing down, then I think we should give

1387
03:32:29,193 --> 03:32:31,539
them the benefit of the doubt. And I'm in favor

1388
03:32:31,640 --> 03:32:35,335
of the three month extension. All right. Any further discussion?

1389
03:32:35,335 --> 03:32:41,910
Are you ready for the question Councillor Stash. Supposed to

1390
03:32:41,950 --> 03:32:45,030
be neutral and unbiased and stick to policy at the

1391
03:32:45,030 --> 03:32:48,150
table? That's the hard part. I understand very sympathetic to

1392
03:32:48,150 --> 03:32:52,150
what Councillor Finley and Hog have said. But I just

1393
03:32:52,331 --> 03:32:59,990
wanted to refer to the report though that initial notice

1394
03:33:00,971 --> 03:33:06,903
was over two years ago. Um, they were, there was,

1395
03:33:06,903 --> 03:33:09,763
uh, request to come into compliance two years ago. And

1396
03:33:09,763 --> 03:33:15,863
then this particular, um, the notice of intent for on

1397
03:33:15,863 --> 03:33:19,943
title, um, was almost two months ago. And staff already

1398
03:33:19,983 --> 03:33:22,503
gave a bit of an extension and gave time to

1399
03:33:22,604 --> 03:33:26,183
moving it from July to September. So you've had two

1400
03:33:26,223 --> 03:33:30,743
years plus another two months extension, um, again, absolutely sympathetic

1401
03:33:31,244 --> 03:33:35,383
to market conditions. But on the contrary to Councillor Finley's

1402
03:33:35,383 --> 03:33:38,503
comments, it's, I would say it's the small business just

1403
03:33:38,503 --> 03:33:45,143
starting out. That's not a large, very sophisticated corporate entity,

1404
03:33:45,143 --> 03:33:47,783
uh, would be the ones that we would give leniens

1405
03:33:47,823 --> 03:33:51,943
to, but a company of this reputation and caliber and

1406
03:33:51,983 --> 03:33:56,103
commitment and being that large of employer are unfortunately are

1407
03:33:56,103 --> 03:33:57,703
the ones that we have to hold to a higher

1408
03:33:57,724 --> 03:34:02,183
standard. So that's why my, my, my conflict on this.

1409
03:34:02,183 --> 03:34:06,263
And again, why, while my facility was much smaller and

1410
03:34:06,284 --> 03:34:10,103
was a fraction, it was one building of their many.

1411
03:34:10,103 --> 03:34:12,103
As I said, I enjoy that tour, but I understand

1412
03:34:13,404 --> 03:34:15,703
the type of quality of work they're doing and why,

1413
03:34:15,703 --> 03:34:19,783
again, that core auditing an ISO reference to wearing development

1414
03:34:19,884 --> 03:34:24,343
permits and building permits should be reasonable expectations of achievement.

1415
03:34:24,343 --> 03:34:26,503
Um, if it was just a building that needed to

1416
03:34:26,503 --> 03:34:29,703
be repermated or built, uh, the one thing in here

1417
03:34:29,964 --> 03:34:32,663
though, is there is a riparian area in a water

1418
03:34:32,703 --> 03:34:36,903
course that was altered. So that's something on the environmental

1419
03:34:36,943 --> 03:34:39,903
side that we do have to be cautious on. So

1420
03:34:39,903 --> 03:34:45,303
again, absolutely all, uh, empathy for the situation. Uh, especially

1421
03:34:45,964 --> 03:34:51,223
as Councillor Finley said, uh, mill closures and curtailments and

1422
03:34:51,263 --> 03:34:53,383
things affecting that part of industry and then having to

1423
03:34:53,484 --> 03:34:58,503
pivot and change rapidly and tariffs and real impacts on

1424
03:34:58,684 --> 03:35:03,283
the prime commodity of their business being steel and, uh.

1425
03:35:04,382 --> 03:35:11,241
Prefab structures. Again, full empathy and concern for their plight.

1426
03:35:11,241 --> 03:35:12,921
But at the Council table is supposed to be a

1427
03:35:14,222 --> 03:35:20,761
unbiased as possible and try to really stick to policy.

1428
03:35:20,761 --> 03:35:24,601
And unfortunately our largest and again, most sophisticated companies need

1429
03:35:24,641 --> 03:35:28,336
to be held to the highest standard. Is any further

1430
03:35:28,336 --> 03:35:30,896
discussion or we want to call the question? Oh, sorry.

1431
03:35:31,157 --> 03:35:35,136
It's May. Mayor, thanks. Uh, just to clarify, um, what

1432
03:35:35,317 --> 03:35:38,016
we're voting on here. All I kind of heard was

1433
03:35:38,277 --> 03:35:45,216
to defer the motion. Are we deferring, um, registering of

1434
03:35:45,256 --> 03:35:50,236
the title to December the 2nd, 2026? Okay. Thanks, big.

1435
03:35:52,708 --> 03:36:00,111
That was your intent. Okay. Council stash. Deferring debate or

1436
03:36:00,532 --> 03:36:06,743
you're executing notice untitle, but with a delay. So either

1437
03:36:06,783 --> 03:36:10,823
should be clarification on that then. Cause that's, that's totally

1438
03:36:10,863 --> 03:36:12,823
different things. And I think that's what miss Maine was

1439
03:36:12,823 --> 03:36:17,645
talking to. Councilman House? Yeah. Because if it's after three

1440
03:36:17,685 --> 03:36:21,525
months and they may considerable, um, advance towards compliance, I

1441
03:36:21,525 --> 03:36:23,285
think we should, you know, we can extend it. So

1442
03:36:23,285 --> 03:36:25,405
I don't think the December 2nd should be hard, hard

1443
03:36:25,506 --> 03:36:32,354
date. I mean, the way I understood it is we

1444
03:36:32,375 --> 03:36:36,514
are deferring the recommendation to December 2nd. So we'll come

1445
03:36:36,514 --> 03:36:40,114
back at December 2nd meeting for the sitting Council to

1446
03:36:40,295 --> 03:36:42,914
decide on whether to proceed with it or not. Yeah.

1447
03:36:43,415 --> 03:36:45,634
Yes. Yeah. So if they're complying to it, then yeah,

1448
03:36:45,634 --> 03:36:47,394
you wouldn't want to put that on if they are

1449
03:36:47,415 --> 03:36:52,645
complying to it. I agree. Yes. Yes. All right. So

1450
03:36:52,666 --> 03:36:54,885
miss me if that's the collective understanding. I just want

1451
03:36:54,885 --> 03:36:56,805
to make sure I understand exactly what we're voting on

1452
03:36:57,706 --> 03:37:00,485
because, um, so deferring the whole motion to furry the

1453
03:37:00,525 --> 03:37:04,353
whole topic to bring the whole thing back. Beginning of

1454
03:37:04,353 --> 03:37:06,913
December, the first meeting in December. Council makes the decision

1455
03:37:07,014 --> 03:37:10,113
at that point. Okay. Thank you. How are any further

1456
03:37:10,134 --> 03:37:13,439
discussion? We want to call the question. All in favor.

1457
03:37:14,291 --> 03:37:18,317
And opposed. Unopposed motion carries. Well now move on to

1458
03:37:18,338 --> 03:37:23,357
item 11. 2. Mr. Mayor, this is a similar motion

1459
03:37:23,378 --> 03:37:28,717
for 30, 57 couch and lake road. Similar issue and

1460
03:37:28,717 --> 03:37:31,997
the recommendations that after providing the building inspector and the

1461
03:37:31,997 --> 03:37:34,957
owner of 3057 Council Lake Road an opportunity to be

1462
03:37:34,978 --> 03:37:38,317
herd Council confirmed the recommendations of the Billing Inspector and

1463
03:37:38,317 --> 03:37:40,557
authorized the corporate officer to file a notice on the

1464
03:37:40,597 --> 03:37:42,957
land title's office against the title of the property located

1465
03:37:42,978 --> 03:37:46,317
at 3057 Council Lake Road pursuant to section 57, three

1466
03:37:46,317 --> 03:37:49,197
of the Community Charter for contravention of the building regulations

1467
03:37:49,378 --> 03:37:52,397
due to unresolved building infractions and further that the notice

1468
03:37:52,437 --> 03:37:55,437
state won that the resolution relating to the land use.

1469
03:37:57,436 --> 03:38:00,135
Has been made under Section 57 of the Community Charter

1470
03:38:00,316 --> 03:38:03,095
and two that further information about it may be inspected

1471
03:38:03,116 --> 03:38:07,092
at the municipal hall. All right. So first I like

1472
03:38:07,092 --> 03:38:09,652
to welcome our building inspector back up to the podium.

1473
03:38:14,583 --> 03:38:17,522
Good evening again. Thank you again. Um, the only thing

1474
03:38:17,543 --> 03:38:19,362
I have to add to this beyond the what's of

1475
03:38:19,362 --> 03:38:22,002
the report is that I believe we received a 20th

1476
03:38:22,103 --> 03:38:27,489
complaint on this property today. For illegal, uh, disposal of

1477
03:38:27,830 --> 03:38:31,004
sewage. So that didn't make any port cause it just

1478
03:38:31,004 --> 03:38:32,604
happened today. But other than that, I just ask that

1479
03:38:32,604 --> 03:38:38,862
you confirm the recommendation. Any questions for Mr. Drone. All

1480
03:38:38,862 --> 03:38:43,036
right. Thank you. I now like to welcome the owner

1481
03:38:43,036 --> 03:38:48,498
up to the podium. All right. Well, it's not here.

1482
03:38:48,519 --> 03:38:51,631
All right. So we have a recommendation before us. You

1483
03:38:51,631 --> 03:38:53,231
like to move it? Move it. It's moved. Is there

1484
03:38:53,231 --> 03:38:56,062
a second or second by Councillor Callio any discussion. Call

1485
03:38:56,062 --> 03:38:59,319
the question all in favor. And oppose. Then oppose motion

1486
03:38:59,319 --> 03:39:03,267
carries. We'll now move on to item 11. 3 and

1487
03:39:03,267 --> 03:39:05,507
I believe Dr. Preakshock introduced this one.

1488
03:39:15,575 --> 03:39:18,594
There just, uh, little change before we get started with

1489
03:39:18,615 --> 03:39:22,036
this one. The motion that is shown on the front

1490
03:39:22,137 --> 03:39:26,756
cover of the agenda is slightly different from option one

1491
03:39:27,497 --> 03:39:32,594
in the report. The only difference being that the word

1492
03:39:34,215 --> 03:39:41,872
implementation is changed to organisation. It's a really minor prioritization.

1493
03:39:41,872 --> 03:39:44,192
Pardon me. But we want implementation or we want priorities.

1494
03:39:44,192 --> 03:39:50,507
We want prioritization, please. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Go for

1495
03:39:50,547 --> 03:39:54,199
it. Um, before Dr. Bree Shot starts here, this is

1496
03:39:54,239 --> 03:39:58,119
a 217 page document that's being presented to us seven

1497
03:39:58,159 --> 03:40:01,719
years after the first initial, uh, motion to the Council

1498
03:40:01,759 --> 03:40:04,461
at the time. Um, or strategic priority at the time,

1499
03:40:04,461 --> 03:40:09,181
um, I think this is an extremely big, uh, report

1500
03:40:09,922 --> 03:40:12,701
and something that should be postponed until after the election.

1501
03:40:12,701 --> 03:40:14,701
So I'd like to actually make that motion to postpone

1502
03:40:14,701 --> 03:40:20,077
the support till November 4th. Whatever the first meeting is.

1503
03:40:20,077 --> 03:40:23,194
All right. It's been moved. Is there a second. By

1504
03:40:23,234 --> 03:40:30,476
Council Manhas. Councillor stash. If I recall, um, through our

1505
03:40:30,476 --> 03:40:35,356
budgeting processes, we've brought up even if we remember Miss

1506
03:40:35,396 --> 03:40:39,676
Saldara spoke, uh, extensively about the reason that we would

1507
03:40:39,697 --> 03:40:43,436
be getting this report while she was still here and

1508
03:40:43,436 --> 03:40:47,036
talking to the importance of natural asset management, uh, we

1509
03:40:47,057 --> 03:40:50,396
were all versed on it knowing that this was coming.

1510
03:40:50,396 --> 03:40:54,636
And again, uh, we, we understand this, this keeps coming

1511
03:40:54,676 --> 03:40:58,876
up at the CBRD table. Keeps coming up at AVICC

1512
03:40:58,977 --> 03:41:01,676
and UBCM. I would think we're well versed in understanding

1513
03:41:01,716 --> 03:41:05,116
what natural asset management is. Uh, and it's even touched

1514
03:41:05,137 --> 03:41:09,036
in our, uh, it was reviewed and lightly touched on

1515
03:41:09,217 --> 03:41:15,196
in our, uh, climate adaptation and mitigation report is saying

1516
03:41:15,236 --> 03:41:18,316
that we, uh, the emphasis on our natural assets and

1517
03:41:18,316 --> 03:41:23,116
the management of them is precursor for adaptation and mitigation.

1518
03:41:23,116 --> 03:41:25,636
So, uh, I'm not in favor of deferring it. I

1519
03:41:25,636 --> 03:41:30,716
think we can confidently take these recommendations here and act

1520
03:41:30,716 --> 03:41:35,676
upon them today. The next Council can then help work

1521
03:41:35,937 --> 03:41:38,236
out the implementation of it. But I see no reason

1522
03:41:38,257 --> 03:41:45,989
why we need to defer. Councillor Cayo. Thank you. Excuse

1523
03:41:46,029 --> 03:41:52,389
me. Um, yeah, I'm in support of Councillor Finley's motion

1524
03:41:52,970 --> 03:41:57,349
simply because, um, being the head of the EAC committee,

1525
03:41:57,389 --> 03:42:02,467
I think this is a very, very important report. That

1526
03:42:02,488 --> 03:42:06,227
needs to be looked at and to be studied. It's

1527
03:42:06,227 --> 03:42:11,225
been in the works for many, many years. And. You

1528
03:42:11,225 --> 03:42:14,665
know, the NAP is going to be important moving forward

1529
03:42:15,246 --> 03:42:20,505
with all the, um, developments that are coming on in

1530
03:42:20,526 --> 03:42:25,225
North Cowching. So I'm thinking to myself that this, this

1531
03:42:25,246 --> 03:42:27,385
actually would be good to come on. And I think

1532
03:42:27,486 --> 03:42:30,185
it's so important that we need to have the next

1533
03:42:30,446 --> 03:42:33,465
Council, whoever they may be. I think this would be

1534
03:42:33,505 --> 03:42:35,545
a good opportunity for, for them to have a look

1535
03:42:35,585 --> 03:42:38,425
at this and make a decision on something as important

1536
03:42:38,686 --> 03:42:45,974
as this. Council of Justice. Yeah. I certainly understand the,

1537
03:42:45,974 --> 03:42:51,874
uh. Positions of Councillor Calio and Councillor Finley. And initially

1538
03:42:51,975 --> 03:42:54,354
I thought, Oh, I wish I have this at a

1539
03:42:54,354 --> 03:42:55,874
committee of the whole meeting and really get a chance

1540
03:42:55,895 --> 03:42:58,514
to beat it up. But the more I read it,

1541
03:42:58,514 --> 03:43:02,834
the more I realised that actually the next step is

1542
03:43:02,855 --> 03:43:07,714
the really important part. So here we're formally recognising these

1543
03:43:07,815 --> 03:43:12,034
assets natural assets. Um, but the next thing that we're

1544
03:43:12,034 --> 03:43:15,394
going to be doing is developing a practical plan for

1545
03:43:15,415 --> 03:43:18,914
determining which of these actions should come first and how

1546
03:43:18,914 --> 03:43:20,834
they're going to get done. That's when the real work

1547
03:43:20,874 --> 03:43:24,594
starts. It's like what we did with the biodiversity policy,

1548
03:43:24,594 --> 03:43:26,514
right? You look at this huge thing. You go, yeah,

1549
03:43:26,514 --> 03:43:30,032
let's go. And then let's develop an implementation thing. So

1550
03:43:30,213 --> 03:43:33,712
I don't think it's a really huge thing to do

1551
03:43:33,733 --> 03:43:36,192
right now just to say, yeah, this is a great

1552
03:43:36,373 --> 03:43:41,345
report. Like let's go. We're committed to natural asset management.

1553
03:43:41,345 --> 03:43:44,076
Let's take the next step. For the next Council can

1554
03:43:44,116 --> 03:43:47,836
start looking at an implementation plan looking at the particular

1555
03:43:47,857 --> 03:43:51,676
actions. Which ones we should prioritize and go from there.

1556
03:43:51,676 --> 03:43:54,476
So let's, let's approve this thing tonight and move on

1557
03:43:54,497 --> 03:43:58,806
to the implementation for the next Council. Council Hog. Thank

1558
03:43:58,806 --> 03:44:03,252
you Mayor. I was actually thinking about the biodiversity report.

1559
03:44:04,099 --> 03:44:06,398
And it was referred to as a cookbook, but another

1560
03:44:06,419 --> 03:44:10,301
cooks. Is this the same reference. I can't remember. That.

1561
03:44:11,191 --> 03:44:13,470
Does anyone else remember that? It was a cookbook, not

1562
03:44:13,470 --> 03:44:18,443
the cooks. Well, go back and look at a meeting

1563
03:44:18,464 --> 03:44:22,959
because that was said. Maybe it's a cookbook. We haven't

1564
03:44:22,980 --> 03:44:26,893
decided which recipes we're going to cook yet. Yeah. There

1565
03:44:26,933 --> 03:44:30,138
you go. Anyways, that's all I wanted to make sure

1566
03:44:30,159 --> 03:44:34,698
that this was just, um, to push it through. And

1567
03:44:34,698 --> 03:44:38,305
then the implementation would start after. Is that a yes?

1568
03:44:38,966 --> 03:44:40,865
Are we saying yes to that? Yeah. That's, that's my

1569
03:44:40,905 --> 03:44:46,663
understanding. Okay. Understanding for sure. Okay. Okay. Thank you. This

1570
03:44:46,703 --> 03:44:49,783
strategy outlines like a whole range of options. Um, like

1571
03:44:49,823 --> 03:44:53,623
ongoing actions already doing short term medium term long term,

1572
03:44:53,623 --> 03:44:58,183
but it's really that, uh, implementation or prioritization plan that's

1573
03:44:58,223 --> 03:45:00,823
going to drill down to what we want to pursue.

1574
03:45:00,823 --> 03:45:02,583
And some of that we may be able to be

1575
03:45:02,684 --> 03:45:05,303
incorporated into our existing work plans or it may require

1576
03:45:05,484 --> 03:45:09,543
approval from Council through the budgeting process of extra resources

1577
03:45:09,564 --> 03:45:12,186
are required. But ultimately, and I'm going to go to

1578
03:45:12,226 --> 03:45:15,386
you in one moment, Council Fish dash. I mean, we,

1579
03:45:15,386 --> 03:45:18,186
uh, received a 200, 000 dollar grant through the Canada

1580
03:45:18,607 --> 03:45:20,986
Community building fund to pay for this thing. We brought

1581
03:45:21,087 --> 03:45:23,226
in urban systems to do the work. They've completed the

1582
03:45:23,266 --> 03:45:26,586
work. They've submitted their report back in June. And it's

1583
03:45:26,586 --> 03:45:28,346
now coming back to us. Now the staff had a

1584
03:45:28,346 --> 03:45:30,266
chance to review it. But I mean, if we were

1585
03:45:30,306 --> 03:45:35,626
going to refer the strategy itself to the next council,

1586
03:45:35,626 --> 03:45:36,586
I mean, I'm not sure what they would do with

1587
03:45:36,626 --> 03:45:40,026
it. Would we, if we've already fully expended the 200,

1588
03:45:40,066 --> 03:45:42,986
000 dollar grant and federal funding, if we want to

1589
03:45:43,087 --> 03:45:46,506
change it, are we going to bring urban systems back?

1590
03:45:46,506 --> 03:45:50,346
Are we going to get a staff to bring in

1591
03:45:51,247 --> 03:45:53,626
new suggested actions and keep in mind, like it's a

1592
03:45:53,666 --> 03:45:55,706
whole menu of actions there. And it's truly through that

1593
03:45:55,727 --> 03:45:58,826
implementation plan that we decide on which ones we want

1594
03:45:58,826 --> 03:46:02,266
to pursue and incorporate into our Departmental work plans. Councillor

1595
03:46:02,306 --> 03:46:05,066
Cawyo. And then Councillor Stash and he'd been waiting patiently.

1596
03:46:05,708 --> 03:46:11,988
Thanks, Mayor. Yeah. Some good points. And I mean, we

1597
03:46:12,009 --> 03:46:16,708
sit at this table and we listen. I know myself.

1598
03:46:16,748 --> 03:46:19,588
I listen. And I listen with everybody says. And I,

1599
03:46:19,588 --> 03:46:23,908
and I weigh, you know, the points that they make.

1600
03:46:23,908 --> 03:46:27,428
And I think in this situation, I think, uh, the

1601
03:46:27,529 --> 03:46:30,708
mayor and, uh, Councillor Justice have made a good point

1602
03:46:30,748 --> 03:46:35,508
with me. And so, um, I think I might be

1603
03:46:35,529 --> 03:46:38,948
voting the other way. Thank you. Councillor Stash, thanks for

1604
03:46:38,988 --> 03:46:42,168
your patience. All good. As everybody was talking, I was

1605
03:46:42,168 --> 03:46:45,108
thinking on the other point to this is, um, I'd

1606
03:46:45,129 --> 03:46:47,908
want to speak to the plan itself, uh, quickly because

1607
03:46:47,908 --> 03:46:53,348
we're speaking about the wise choice to defer or not

1608
03:46:53,388 --> 03:46:56,468
defer, but to the plan itself, um, what I've seen

1609
03:46:56,569 --> 03:46:59,348
accomplished over this four years of this term are a

1610
03:46:59,348 --> 03:47:03,952
lot of good things are actually happening. Towards actually these

1611
03:47:03,952 --> 03:47:08,192
are all the building blocks of coming up with our

1612
03:47:08,232 --> 03:47:14,412
hopeful future full community buying on a forest strategy. Um,

1613
03:47:14,613 --> 03:47:18,672
our biodiversity policy and all of our riparian work we've

1614
03:47:18,672 --> 03:47:21,072
done through that and understanding that the force and the

1615
03:47:21,112 --> 03:47:25,152
ecosystems. And then working on natural asset management. All of

1616
03:47:25,152 --> 03:47:28,352
these are the building blocks that inform, uh, how best

1617
03:47:28,453 --> 03:47:32,272
to steward the local force. And then this report itself

1618
03:47:32,533 --> 03:47:35,392
is, and this plan is another important document that we're

1619
03:47:35,392 --> 03:47:37,952
going to be able to provide to coatzination to really

1620
03:47:37,992 --> 03:47:40,752
come up with a folsome, uh, co - management plan

1621
03:47:40,853 --> 03:47:44,672
with them. So any deferral in this has us deferring

1622
03:47:45,013 --> 03:47:49,532
coming out with a good future, uh, policy and, uh,

1623
03:47:49,573 --> 03:47:53,072
management plan that reflects North Collish and wishes. Of course,

1624
03:47:53,072 --> 03:47:58,352
we saw that again in the citizen satisfaction, uh, replay.

1625
03:47:58,352 --> 03:48:01,232
I guess the happy side to me is this all

1626
03:48:01,253 --> 03:48:03,232
started eight years ago when we asked for a pause

1627
03:48:03,253 --> 03:48:06,672
on the forest. So, uh, if this council wishes defer

1628
03:48:06,712 --> 03:48:08,352
that, you're just going to make me happy. And we're

1629
03:48:08,352 --> 03:48:10,432
going to have a pause longer and our forest are

1630
03:48:10,432 --> 03:48:12,992
going to have a continued time to heal and regenerate

1631
03:48:13,013 --> 03:48:16,272
and perform their natural asset value. So I guess I

1632
03:48:16,533 --> 03:48:18,392
win if we approve it today and I'm going to

1633
03:48:18,392 --> 03:48:20,592
be very happy if they do defer it because it's

1634
03:48:20,592 --> 03:48:22,512
just going to take longer to come up with four

1635
03:48:22,552 --> 03:48:25,312
strategies. So, uh, I'm grateful either way, but I do

1636
03:48:25,573 --> 03:48:30,672
urge you to, uh, pass this today as most notably

1637
03:48:30,933 --> 03:48:34,112
on if you look on the chart on page 17,

1638
03:48:34,112 --> 03:48:37,152
nothing even comes close to the natural asset value of

1639
03:48:37,152 --> 03:48:40,992
the local force in North Couch and provide. Most notably,

1640
03:48:41,093 --> 03:48:46,672
water retention, storm management. And then soil erosion and soil

1641
03:48:46,693 --> 03:48:50,192
retention in the valley. So, um, either way you're going

1642
03:48:50,192 --> 03:48:52,752
to, I'll be fine with your vote, but I hope

1643
03:48:52,752 --> 03:48:56,253
that the vote is to make this happen today. On

1644
03:48:56,253 --> 03:48:59,101
deferral, we ready for the question then. It's all in

1645
03:48:59,101 --> 03:49:04,697
favor of deferring this item. And opposed. Councillor's Calio, Estach

1646
03:49:05,118 --> 03:49:08,565
Hog Justice in the Mayor Oppose motions defeated. All right,

1647
03:49:08,565 --> 03:49:11,445
back to you Dr. Prekshaw. Mr. Swabi, anything to add.

1648
03:49:19,213 --> 03:49:22,598
Um, good evening worship. Good evening Council. Thanks for the

1649
03:49:22,598 --> 03:49:26,598
opportunity to speak to you on this. And Councillor Hogg,

1650
03:49:26,598 --> 03:49:31,238
MeaKalpa. I introduced the metaphor of these items being like

1651
03:49:31,899 --> 03:49:36,198
recipe books. And that, uh, what staff is seeking here

1652
03:49:36,238 --> 03:49:40,598
is permission to come back and discuss with Council which

1653
03:49:40,598 --> 03:49:43,306
one of these recipes we want to cook. Um, our

1654
03:49:43,346 --> 03:49:48,346
belief is that this report has lots of great instructions.

1655
03:49:48,346 --> 03:49:50,386
And well, we can decide later how we want to

1656
03:49:50,386 --> 03:49:53,866
take those and what subset of that we can use.

1657
03:49:53,866 --> 03:49:57,306
So I just like to begin by, um, pointing out

1658
03:49:57,346 --> 03:50:01,766
that we do have the, uh, report lead author, uh,

1659
03:50:01,967 --> 03:50:06,266
online in case the technical questions, but I understand your

1660
03:50:06,266 --> 03:50:08,826
schedule isn't quite busy. So I'd like to quickly go

1661
03:50:08,866 --> 03:50:12,746
through the presentation and allow Council to begin deliberation on

1662
03:50:12,927 --> 03:50:17,226
the recommendation that we adopt a report and, uh, then

1663
03:50:17,266 --> 03:50:20,406
direct staff to work with EAC and Council on, uh,

1664
03:50:20,687 --> 03:50:24,746
on preparing a prioritization plan so that we can start

1665
03:50:24,767 --> 03:50:29,023
looking at some of these. This is the, uh, way

1666
03:50:29,023 --> 03:50:38,009
to advance the slides. Uh, pointed out

1667
03:50:38,049 --> 03:50:42,809
before, uh, this project has its genesis in 2019 when

1668
03:50:42,910 --> 03:50:46,569
Council adopted a strategic plan, which included a goal of

1669
03:50:46,609 --> 03:50:50,596
integrating natural assets into our outset management program. Uh, in

1670
03:50:50,596 --> 03:50:56,436
2022, Council Dr. Resolution directing staff to approach federal funding

1671
03:50:56,436 --> 03:51:00,116
agency to get funds to look at how that might

1672
03:51:00,156 --> 03:51:04,556
be done. And in, uh, in 2023, uh, 2022, we

1673
03:51:04,617 --> 03:51:10,836
were awarded 200, 000 dollars through UBCM from the federal,

1674
03:51:10,836 --> 03:51:17,236
um, uh, agencies to actually fund a study which included

1675
03:51:18,297 --> 03:51:22,676
looking at an actual natural asset inventory, looking at risk

1676
03:51:22,857 --> 03:51:25,556
and level of service assessment from the, for those natural

1677
03:51:25,657 --> 03:51:29,636
assets, uh, sketching out what natural asset management plans would

1678
03:51:29,676 --> 03:51:33,076
look like in North Cowlichan doing a detailed assessment of

1679
03:51:33,497 --> 03:51:37,556
Bing's Creek to provide an example in very specific detail

1680
03:51:37,657 --> 03:51:42,356
of how that could unfold in a readily identifiable and

1681
03:51:42,396 --> 03:51:46,204
recognisable natural asset in our community. And, uh, and then

1682
03:51:46,204 --> 03:51:48,604
looking at what tools we have to actually implement that

1683
03:51:49,025 --> 03:51:54,471
and make it happen. Project started up in 2024 when,

1684
03:51:54,471 --> 03:51:58,151
uh, an RFP was issued to ask firms to bid

1685
03:51:58,252 --> 03:52:03,111
on, uh, a contract to do those things. In February,

1686
03:52:03,111 --> 03:52:06,151
2024, we also apprised Council of our intention to pursue

1687
03:52:06,151 --> 03:52:10,711
that through a bulletin outlining the RFP and what we

1688
03:52:10,812 --> 03:52:15,351
were seeking, um, uh, contractor to do in July the

1689
03:52:15,351 --> 03:52:19,830
summer, we awarded the contract to urban systems. And, uh,

1690
03:52:19,951 --> 03:52:24,978
the project was initiated in October, 2024. With urban systems

1691
03:52:25,959 --> 03:52:30,098
looking at initiating 11 tasks. And this is looking at

1692
03:52:30,138 --> 03:52:33,378
our current natural asset management practices in North Cowching. It's

1693
03:52:33,399 --> 03:52:36,898
important to recognise we do manage natural assets. One of

1694
03:52:36,898 --> 03:52:38,978
the goals of this program really is to be a

1695
03:52:38,978 --> 03:52:41,218
little bit more purposeful and formal about how we do

1696
03:52:41,258 --> 03:52:45,458
that. Uh, and, and that can improve our efficiency and

1697
03:52:45,479 --> 03:52:50,578
help deliver more recognisable goals. Uh, there's an asset inventory

1698
03:52:50,759 --> 03:52:56,338
looking at, um, not exhaustive, but fairly complete examination of

1699
03:52:56,839 --> 03:52:59,778
kinds of natural assets we have in this community. Looking

1700
03:52:59,778 --> 03:53:02,978
at their condition, looking at their level of service. Level

1701
03:53:02,978 --> 03:53:05,618
of service is really key way at which the function

1702
03:53:05,799 --> 03:53:11,298
that those assets provide is identified and assessed. And then,

1703
03:53:11,298 --> 03:53:14,898
uh, and then valued. And typically it's on a, what

1704
03:53:14,898 --> 03:53:17,338
would it cost for us to build some sort of

1705
03:53:17,479 --> 03:53:20,738
infrastructure to replace what this is doing. And, uh, great

1706
03:53:20,778 --> 03:53:24,398
example is something like a wetland, which floods regularly, um,

1707
03:53:24,398 --> 03:53:28,018
but provides flood protection for surrounding lands. And in fact,

1708
03:53:28,439 --> 03:53:31,938
North Couch and has several assets in which we own

1709
03:53:32,119 --> 03:53:36,338
wetlands, which we maintain the stormwater detention facilities, which help

1710
03:53:36,519 --> 03:53:42,098
control flood waters from impacting neighbouring communities. In a planning

1711
03:53:42,119 --> 03:53:44,738
phase where looking at what are the elements of a

1712
03:53:44,778 --> 03:53:48,738
natural asset management strategy, uh, what our elements of an

1713
03:53:48,778 --> 03:53:52,658
implementation plan. And that's a prioritization plan that staff is

1714
03:53:52,658 --> 03:53:56,738
recommending. And looking at an action plan for Bings Creek

1715
03:53:56,919 --> 03:53:59,938
in particular to provide a guidance of how that could

1716
03:53:59,978 --> 03:54:02,638
be done in one place or the kinds of, uh,

1717
03:54:02,759 --> 03:54:07,218
processes and procedures you would use to take on an

1718
03:54:07,258 --> 03:54:10,338
asset to augment what we already have as an asset

1719
03:54:10,378 --> 03:54:14,364
management, as assets that we do manage. And then finally

1720
03:54:14,625 --> 03:54:18,844
looking at implementation, what would you be doing to monitor

1721
03:54:19,265 --> 03:54:22,044
and report on those to know that you're actually achieving

1722
03:54:22,865 --> 03:54:27,403
what those assets are intended to be doing. Big aspect

1723
03:54:27,424 --> 03:54:30,663
of the work we did included engagement First Nations. And

1724
03:54:30,663 --> 03:54:34,983
we had two engagement events with First Nations staff, uh,

1725
03:54:35,104 --> 03:54:38,603
from all five First Nations within North Cowching. And we

1726
03:54:38,603 --> 03:54:42,123
also were able to establish regular engagement sessions with elders

1727
03:54:42,144 --> 03:54:47,083
from Panelicate and Halal tribe. And we're still, we're still

1728
03:54:47,083 --> 03:54:50,683
talking to Couch and tribes about setting up, um, a

1729
03:54:50,864 --> 03:54:55,163
similar sort of, um, series with, um, their elders and

1730
03:54:55,344 --> 03:54:59,303
or community members. And we found this as really, uh,

1731
03:54:59,303 --> 03:55:02,923
become an important thing that we do regularly and has

1732
03:55:02,963 --> 03:55:07,003
really helped improve how we conduct relations on topics which

1733
03:55:07,003 --> 03:55:10,843
are primary importance to a lot of folks in those

1734
03:55:10,883 --> 03:55:14,443
communities. What are we doing to restore and protect a

1735
03:55:14,443 --> 03:55:17,083
lot of the habitats that are seen as having been

1736
03:55:17,123 --> 03:55:25,379
changed fundamentally. The work, as I mentioned, began in 2024

1737
03:55:25,960 --> 03:55:30,819
and staff advisory team really involved all parts of North

1738
03:55:30,840 --> 03:55:35,299
Cowlician's staff team, uh, folks from the senior at the

1739
03:55:35,339 --> 03:55:40,019
asset management specialist who we have on staff. Michelle Miller,

1740
03:55:40,019 --> 03:55:44,659
myself, of course. Director of Financial Services, directors, as they've

1741
03:55:44,680 --> 03:55:49,219
changed director of planning and building an environment, the Environmental

1742
03:55:49,259 --> 03:55:52,979
Programs Manager, the Manager of Engineering, Director of Parks and

1743
03:55:52,979 --> 03:55:57,779
Recreation Municipal Forester, GIS staff support, and of course, participation

1744
03:55:57,819 --> 03:56:02,259
of Communication staff. And so all of these eyes have

1745
03:56:02,360 --> 03:56:07,059
been on the report. And we're there to point out,

1746
03:56:07,059 --> 03:56:11,739
uh, deficiencies, weaknesses and places that could be augmented. So

1747
03:56:12,120 --> 03:56:16,419
really, I have a feeling that this report captures a

1748
03:56:16,419 --> 03:56:20,819
lot of what staff think is achievable, uh, from, from

1749
03:56:20,859 --> 03:56:26,099
different, the capabilities within different departments to recognise where this

1750
03:56:26,139 --> 03:56:32,334
could be applied and used. Uh, just a brief look

1751
03:56:32,374 --> 03:56:35,934
at the project timeline with work starting at 2024. Initially,

1752
03:56:35,934 --> 03:56:40,174
we'd intended to be finished earlier in 2025, but with

1753
03:56:40,435 --> 03:56:43,054
the, uh, preparation of the final report and reviewed by

1754
03:56:43,155 --> 03:56:47,274
staff. It took a little bit longer. Um, but, uh,

1755
03:56:47,395 --> 03:56:51,774
better to deliver a good product late than a half

1756
03:56:51,875 --> 03:57:01,161
bake product. Uh, early. For finalising the report, I'm sticking

1757
03:57:01,161 --> 03:57:05,462
with a cooking metaphor. It's pretty hard, aren't I? For

1758
03:57:05,483 --> 03:57:10,242
finalising the report, we, uh, like I said, started, uh,

1759
03:57:10,242 --> 03:57:13,702
in early 26 with staff reviewing the report, providing feedback

1760
03:57:13,742 --> 03:57:18,582
to urban systems. That was, um, and involved, uh, an

1761
03:57:18,582 --> 03:57:21,462
involved process. But I think really worth it giving staff

1762
03:57:21,502 --> 03:57:25,142
members a more complete understanding what the report was all

1763
03:57:25,182 --> 03:57:27,702
about and how we could take this advice and bring

1764
03:57:27,702 --> 03:57:30,422
it to bear. And I think that will help bear

1765
03:57:30,462 --> 03:57:33,942
fruit in the discussions with EAC and Council in the

1766
03:57:33,942 --> 03:57:37,222
future when we're figuring out how exactly we are going

1767
03:57:37,222 --> 03:57:42,582
to prioritize different strategies and assets in our community that

1768
03:57:42,622 --> 03:57:51,969
we can start emphasizing for management. So just to give

1769
03:57:51,969 --> 03:57:54,689
you some highlights of the report, then reference made to

1770
03:57:56,150 --> 03:57:58,049
its size, but I think one thing you can focus

1771
03:57:58,070 --> 03:58:01,329
on is really it's the first 45 pages that provide

1772
03:58:01,369 --> 03:58:05,089
you the real meat of the report. Majority of it

1773
03:58:06,230 --> 03:58:09,409
are very highly detailed technical aspects of how some of

1774
03:58:09,409 --> 03:58:11,889
the assessment work was done. The guts of how the

1775
03:58:11,910 --> 03:58:15,949
Bings Creek analysis was done. And that, um, maybe, uh,

1776
03:58:16,710 --> 03:58:20,749
less compelling for some. But, uh, the report itself, uh,

1777
03:58:20,870 --> 03:58:23,169
really does a good job of looking at the natural

1778
03:58:23,190 --> 03:58:25,929
asset context of North Couch and it's not going to

1779
03:58:25,929 --> 03:58:31,169
surprise anybody to see that we really are blessed with,

1780
03:58:31,169 --> 03:58:37,009
uh, significant amount of forest and stream aquatic habitats that

1781
03:58:37,430 --> 03:58:42,369
we treasure because of their existence. But also provide a

1782
03:58:42,390 --> 03:58:46,002
surprising amount of service to the community. Um, and, and,

1783
03:58:46,002 --> 03:58:48,322
and the process and practices that we already have in

1784
03:58:48,343 --> 03:58:50,722
North Cowlich and where as I refer to we are

1785
03:58:50,722 --> 03:58:55,042
managing natural assets, uh, and how that work really which

1786
03:58:55,303 --> 03:58:58,802
is not haphazard, but definitely hasn't been approached from a

1787
03:58:58,842 --> 03:59:01,682
strategic perspective how, you know, being a little bit more

1788
03:59:01,722 --> 03:59:04,562
purposeful about that can help us be more efficient about

1789
03:59:04,602 --> 03:59:06,322
where we choose to do this and how we choose

1790
03:59:06,362 --> 03:59:10,242
to expand on the assets we already do manage. Like

1791
03:59:10,242 --> 03:59:13,842
I said, mostly, uh, detention punds wetlands and these sorts

1792
03:59:13,842 --> 03:59:18,382
of things, uh, tied in with stormwater, uh, conveyance. And

1793
03:59:18,382 --> 03:59:20,722
that's really, I think where the report is looking for

1794
03:59:20,823 --> 03:59:24,242
us to focus some of our initial work is building

1795
03:59:24,282 --> 03:59:28,482
on that stormwater, uh, conveyance that is a big part

1796
03:59:28,522 --> 03:59:31,202
of what we do and what natural assets can easily

1797
03:59:31,383 --> 03:59:34,882
provide and provide in a better way. If manage properly.

1798
03:59:36,367 --> 03:59:38,666
We did a risk assessment looking at, you know, just

1799
03:59:38,666 --> 03:59:43,066
what are the potential risks given climate change and just

1800
03:59:43,106 --> 03:59:46,826
given natural climate variation to those things. These are, these

1801
03:59:46,866 --> 03:59:50,026
are things like floods and where you have failures in

1802
03:59:50,127 --> 03:59:54,594
different systems. Forest fires, for example. The Bins Creek pilot

1803
03:59:54,594 --> 03:59:59,634
study really provides, um, look at, um, what that really

1804
03:59:59,655 --> 04:00:02,834
will mean in terms of staffing that's required to look

1805
04:00:02,874 --> 04:00:06,414
at management. And it's not, these aren't daunting things. Um,

1806
04:00:06,535 --> 04:00:08,434
the one thing I suspect a lot of people will

1807
04:00:08,434 --> 04:00:11,874
find daunting is when the report actually does a valuation

1808
04:00:12,215 --> 04:00:16,674
of all the natural assets in the community. The estimated

1809
04:00:16,695 --> 04:00:19,234
value of all those natural assets is about five billion

1810
04:00:19,274 --> 04:00:23,662
dollars. And that's not to say that North Cowlican would

1811
04:00:23,683 --> 04:00:27,742
be assuming management of five billion dollars worth of assets

1812
04:00:28,403 --> 04:00:31,342
with some sort of replacement plan or management plan to

1813
04:00:31,382 --> 04:00:34,222
cover that whole thing. But it is just to point

1814
04:00:34,222 --> 04:00:37,182
out that if you look at, especially you can see

1815
04:00:37,283 --> 04:00:39,582
in this graph that the vast majority of those services

1816
04:00:39,763 --> 04:00:44,862
are in stormwater management from water courses and rainwater mitigation

1817
04:00:46,323 --> 04:00:50,062
and carbon sequestration in forests. And so we already knew

1818
04:00:50,483 --> 04:00:53,582
a lot of this, but it is important to understand

1819
04:00:53,683 --> 04:00:58,222
that. And the five billion dollar figure, although it may

1820
04:00:58,262 --> 04:01:02,462
seem shocking. So actually comparable. In fact, it's, it's about

1821
04:01:03,123 --> 04:01:12,382
what private property. And in North Couch. So the number

1822
04:01:12,563 --> 04:01:18,462
itself is, is actually quite comparable to private property in

1823
04:01:18,462 --> 04:01:22,302
terms of its total value. And I think that is

1824
04:01:22,403 --> 04:01:25,582
probably appropriate and it gives an indication that it's probably

1825
04:01:25,582 --> 04:01:31,324
something that it's on the right scale. And. Just to

1826
04:01:31,364 --> 04:01:33,724
look a little bit more specifically at the Bings Creek

1827
04:01:33,764 --> 04:01:37,644
example, Look at how the assessment is done looking at

1828
04:01:37,644 --> 04:01:40,844
the different reaches of the creek, seeing where the pressures

1829
04:01:40,884 --> 04:01:44,844
are where the services are provided. And figuring out ways

1830
04:01:44,945 --> 04:01:47,784
that by managing that creek and being a little bit

1831
04:01:47,825 --> 04:01:50,924
more purposeful about where we decide to do things to

1832
04:01:50,924 --> 04:01:55,964
the creek, we can help prevent failure. Um, one of

1833
04:01:55,964 --> 04:01:58,684
the things that I really came to the realization of

1834
04:01:58,724 --> 04:02:02,764
during this process was we do manage these natural assets.

1835
04:02:02,764 --> 04:02:04,444
But what we tend to do is manage them when

1836
04:02:04,484 --> 04:02:07,884
they fail spectacularly and we get floods. We get fires.

1837
04:02:07,884 --> 04:02:09,884
And we get these sorts of events happen where we

1838
04:02:09,905 --> 04:02:15,164
spend millions of dollars to clean up the mess. Most

1839
04:02:15,164 --> 04:02:18,684
recent example being the 2021 floods in the Shimani's River.

1840
04:02:19,609 --> 04:02:22,868
The banks failed. Communities get flooded. So we do wind

1841
04:02:22,868 --> 04:02:26,388
up managing the asset by spending money on gravel removal.

1842
04:02:26,388 --> 04:02:28,948
I'm building dikes. And so what asset management from this

1843
04:02:28,988 --> 04:02:32,308
perspective, the seeking to do is to switch the paradigm

1844
04:02:32,409 --> 04:02:37,108
from this unplanned crisis management model to something that's more

1845
04:02:37,148 --> 04:02:40,388
purposeful looking at where our places where we can meaningfully

1846
04:02:40,388 --> 04:02:43,428
make a difference and work to create plans to avoid

1847
04:02:43,449 --> 04:02:52,493
the crisis management scenarios. So for the next steps, we'd

1848
04:02:52,533 --> 04:02:55,213
like to, uh, obviously we've gone through some of these

1849
04:02:55,954 --> 04:02:59,213
steps already, but this is now at the phase where

1850
04:02:59,234 --> 04:03:03,613
I'm reporting to Council and recommending looking at developing a

1851
04:03:03,634 --> 04:03:07,693
prioritization plan where we have a report that provides some

1852
04:03:07,954 --> 04:03:12,413
great methods that provides some great, uh, foundation upon which

1853
04:03:12,434 --> 04:03:16,093
we can have a discussion on which natural assets we

1854
04:03:16,133 --> 04:03:19,613
might choose to focus on. I think it would be

1855
04:03:19,874 --> 04:03:22,173
great if we could start that with stormwater because we've

1856
04:03:22,194 --> 04:03:24,813
already made a great start on that and have some

1857
04:03:24,834 --> 04:03:29,053
significant assets, which we could build on and add to.

1858
04:03:29,053 --> 04:03:30,893
And, uh, I think our things that would be highly

1859
04:03:30,914 --> 04:03:34,013
recognisable in the community, but we can talk about that

1860
04:03:34,834 --> 04:03:38,253
in developing that prioritization with Council and the EAC is

1861
04:03:38,253 --> 04:03:40,253
where we'd like to go next and looking at a

1862
04:03:40,354 --> 04:03:43,693
developing a timeline for bringing those on board and discussing

1863
04:03:43,693 --> 04:03:49,939
what the costs are. So just like thank you very

1864
04:03:49,939 --> 04:03:51,859
much for your time. And I'm happy to take any

1865
04:03:51,880 --> 04:03:55,099
questions. And as I said, if there's any technical, we

1866
04:03:55,099 --> 04:03:58,419
do have someone from urban systems too. All right. Councillor

1867
04:03:58,760 --> 04:04:07,034
Justice. Great report. Thanks. It has been eight years since

1868
04:04:07,215 --> 04:04:11,594
we put this into the strategic plan. So it's really

1869
04:04:11,594 --> 04:04:15,434
neat. And I know, um, you've been really involved in

1870
04:04:15,474 --> 04:04:18,714
a lot of the natural asset management that we have

1871
04:04:18,735 --> 04:04:22,954
been doing. So I'm thinking about the work that you've

1872
04:04:22,994 --> 04:04:27,556
been involved with. I guess, um, in two different capacities

1873
04:04:27,577 --> 04:04:32,356
with the Salmanos Marsh wildlife society, right? Who are really

1874
04:04:32,396 --> 04:04:35,236
doing a lot of good natural asset management. Although not

1875
04:04:35,417 --> 04:04:37,156
in the sort of systematic way that we're talking about.

1876
04:04:37,966 --> 04:04:41,545
Um, and also with Kwamechin Lake. And so this is

1877
04:04:41,726 --> 04:04:46,265
a really, uh, sort of natural fit for you. Anyway,

1878
04:04:46,305 --> 04:04:50,185
I just, I think it's a very positive step forward

1879
04:04:50,286 --> 04:04:54,869
for the municipality. Really excited to see how it unfolds

1880
04:04:54,890 --> 04:05:01,188
in the future. Any further comments or questions from Council.

1881
04:05:01,188 --> 04:05:03,328
Council Man ask. Thank you, Mr. Meyer. Thank you, Mr.

1882
04:05:03,369 --> 04:05:07,108
Peakshot. Oh, Dr. Peak Chat for your presentation. Um, so

1883
04:05:07,369 --> 04:05:10,308
if this is adopted, does just mean that everything we

1884
04:05:10,348 --> 04:05:13,348
do will be looked at through the lens of this

1885
04:05:13,449 --> 04:05:19,711
plant. Dr. Prekshaw. Yeah. Thanks for the question. Um, no,

1886
04:05:19,711 --> 04:05:22,271
I don't think so. Um, I think what this is,

1887
04:05:22,271 --> 04:05:28,171
like I said, is a guide. Recipe book. Um, a

1888
04:05:28,272 --> 04:05:33,451
guide which provides us with a really excellent foundation upon

1889
04:05:33,491 --> 04:05:37,451
which we can make some decisions. And, um, as it

1890
04:05:37,451 --> 04:05:40,411
points out, we, we already have embarked on the road

1891
04:05:40,411 --> 04:05:44,171
of managing natural assets. So I think the real important

1892
04:05:44,592 --> 04:05:49,851
next step is, is doing, uh, prioritization plan with Council.

1893
04:05:49,851 --> 04:05:52,811
And I think that's really, that would be the kind

1894
04:05:52,811 --> 04:05:56,651
of necessary outcome of adopting is, uh, beginning a discussion

1895
04:05:56,691 --> 04:05:59,451
about how are we actually going to take some of

1896
04:05:59,451 --> 04:06:01,970
the rules that are in here. And adopt them to

1897
04:06:01,970 --> 04:06:04,850
what we have in our community and go forward with

1898
04:06:04,871 --> 04:06:09,227
that. With the consent of counsel in the AC. Am

1899
04:06:09,227 --> 04:06:12,027
I concerned is that we had the master transpiration plan.

1900
04:06:12,027 --> 04:06:14,987
We have the, we have the climate plan, whatever. And

1901
04:06:14,987 --> 04:06:17,367
everything has we looked out through those because, you know,

1902
04:06:17,488 --> 04:06:20,747
we, we hear things that, well, it's in the master

1903
04:06:20,768 --> 04:06:23,770
transportation plan. So that's, it's in the report. So we

1904
04:06:23,770 --> 04:06:27,954
have to look at, so this is not that. S

1905
04:06:27,954 --> 04:06:33,074
my understanding. And perhaps, um, Mr. Swabi or Mr. Farkis

1906
04:06:33,114 --> 04:06:35,794
might have a different perspective, but what I would say

1907
04:06:35,895 --> 04:06:39,854
is that this provides you with a very specific, uh,

1908
04:06:40,055 --> 04:06:42,114
set of guidelines and rules to help you make decisions

1909
04:06:42,295 --> 04:06:45,874
about managing natural assets, which is kind of a specific

1910
04:06:46,055 --> 04:06:50,514
subset of, of what we do as a community. So,

1911
04:06:50,514 --> 04:06:53,394
so I don't think it's creating a framework through which,

1912
04:06:53,394 --> 04:06:58,521
uh, other policies would be judged. Dr. Presha, whether we,

1913
04:06:58,521 --> 04:07:02,441
uh, adult the strategy of pursue the recommendations, the fact

1914
04:07:02,481 --> 04:07:04,201
of the matter is, is that a big part of

1915
04:07:04,241 --> 04:07:08,121
the strategy is, uh, an inventory of our existing natural

1916
04:07:08,462 --> 04:07:13,481
assets. Um, evaluation of the services they provide. And an

1917
04:07:13,481 --> 04:07:16,921
assessment of their condition. And whether we do anything with

1918
04:07:17,262 --> 04:07:20,041
report from here on out doesn't change the fact that

1919
04:07:20,081 --> 04:07:23,561
we've got that 5. 3 billion dollars worth of natural

1920
04:07:23,601 --> 04:07:28,441
assets and other 48 billion dollars worth of, uh, Bings

1921
04:07:28,481 --> 04:07:32,921
Creek watershed. Yeah. Thanks for the comment. I agree with

1922
04:07:32,942 --> 04:07:35,561
that. And it's, um, it's, it's kind of, it's more

1923
04:07:35,561 --> 04:07:40,912
of a process thing. There's a lot of process stuff

1924
04:07:40,933 --> 04:07:44,592
in here. And I think that's, uh, the discussions are

1925
04:07:45,013 --> 04:07:48,492
really around the guts of how do you make, you

1926
04:07:48,492 --> 04:07:53,712
know, help make these financial and management decisions on specific

1927
04:07:53,752 --> 04:07:57,552
things. What actually winds up being, uh, worked on for

1928
04:07:57,733 --> 04:08:00,892
natural assets will be for council to decide and, uh,

1929
04:08:00,933 --> 04:08:03,552
for the community to advise on in the EAC potentially

1930
04:08:03,733 --> 04:08:07,937
if they're, um, if they, uh. Ask to advise on

1931
04:08:07,937 --> 04:08:13,143
it after the next election. Councillor Calio, you're next up.

1932
04:08:16,395 --> 04:08:24,751
Thanks, Mayor. Yeah. Real good. Can I talk now?

1933
04:08:26,452 --> 04:08:31,732
Sorry. Um, yeah, thanks Dr. Preshrut for your report. Excellent

1934
04:08:31,753 --> 04:08:38,532
report. And going through the report from, was it urban

1935
04:08:38,572 --> 04:08:45,710
systems. Urban systems? Um, yeah, it's very detailed. And I

1936
04:08:45,811 --> 04:08:48,150
never knew that we had five billion dollars worth of

1937
04:08:48,211 --> 04:08:54,510
assets in natural fluorin fauna and our municipalities. So it's

1938
04:08:54,510 --> 04:09:00,309
a bit of an eye opener. You know, it's, I

1939
04:09:00,330 --> 04:09:03,509
know that when we live in this valley, we, we

1940
04:09:03,530 --> 04:09:07,189
appreciate it. We love it. But we don't realise the

1941
04:09:07,189 --> 04:09:09,729
actual value of, of where we live in a lot

1942
04:09:09,729 --> 04:09:12,769
of ways. And, um, like you were talking about, uh.

1943
04:09:15,826 --> 04:09:20,045
You know, swamps that are, you know, wetlands that are

1944
04:09:20,386 --> 04:09:23,085
detention areas and that. And this is, uh, something that

1945
04:09:23,106 --> 04:09:26,125
we have quite a few of. And we need to,

1946
04:09:26,125 --> 04:09:28,445
and we will have more in the future. Um, you

1947
04:09:28,445 --> 04:09:30,605
know, I just like to say that, uh, you know,

1948
04:09:30,605 --> 04:09:34,985
if I am reelected, I'd like to be the, uh,

1949
04:09:35,426 --> 04:09:39,005
chair of the, uh, environmental advisory committee again, because I'd

1950
04:09:39,005 --> 04:09:42,206
like to work with those extremely knowledgeable people. And implement

1951
04:09:42,547 --> 04:09:46,250
this, uh, any MP plan. And thank you for your

1952
04:09:46,351 --> 04:09:52,795
report again. Councillor Stash, then Councillor Finley. Thanks, Mayor. Just

1953
04:09:52,896 --> 04:09:54,795
now on the report itself, like I said, we're talking

1954
04:09:54,835 --> 04:09:58,155
really high level. And whenever anybody's asked me or when

1955
04:09:58,256 --> 04:10:00,955
Miss Salder kind of came out for the RFP process

1956
04:10:01,696 --> 04:10:04,395
was just speaking to the general public and when you

1957
04:10:04,395 --> 04:10:07,515
think about what natural asset management is, is just understanding

1958
04:10:08,096 --> 04:10:13,115
that a small investment into our local ecology, our waterways

1959
04:10:13,216 --> 04:10:17,755
in the forest is a massive taxpayer saving, uh, especially

1960
04:10:17,856 --> 04:10:20,555
when we look at the reports for Mr. Reitzman understanding

1961
04:10:20,555 --> 04:10:24,715
the costs of hard assets of sewer pipes and storm

1962
04:10:24,715 --> 04:10:27,915
pipes. And as you said, man - made detention ponds

1963
04:10:28,416 --> 04:10:31,355
when if we actually understood and managed our natural assets

1964
04:10:31,536 --> 04:10:34,315
and efficient manner, we would actually have to spend less

1965
04:10:34,496 --> 04:10:38,455
on our hard assets. You know, it's the same way

1966
04:10:38,455 --> 04:10:40,555
as some way would build a retaining wall on their

1967
04:10:40,576 --> 04:10:43,675
property or plant trees and grass so that their soil

1968
04:10:43,936 --> 04:10:47,875
doesn't erode. We have those natural assets in place. So

1969
04:10:47,936 --> 04:10:50,315
from a small amount, as you said, just maintaining the

1970
04:10:50,336 --> 04:10:53,355
assets we have, that's where that value comes from is

1971
04:10:53,395 --> 04:10:55,915
what's the value of service they provide rather than us

1972
04:10:55,915 --> 04:10:59,515
putting in hard assets that we have continually managed. And,

1973
04:10:59,515 --> 04:11:02,155
uh, we get reports from Mr. Reitzma saying their red

1974
04:11:02,195 --> 04:11:05,195
need to be replaced and get them done. Uh, nature

1975
04:11:05,456 --> 04:11:08,075
in its own essence is naturally regenerative. So we just

1976
04:11:08,115 --> 04:11:11,675
have to do our part to be responsible to them.

1977
04:11:11,675 --> 04:11:15,035
And, um, I think, uh, Councillor Manasseh's concerns. Is it

1978
04:11:15,075 --> 04:11:19,675
being an overarching document, need not be worried. And actually,

1979
04:11:19,675 --> 04:11:21,755
it's a document you could get behind being that it's

1980
04:11:21,776 --> 04:11:26,315
very financially pragmatic to dig into your natural assets because

1981
04:11:26,315 --> 04:11:29,515
they lower taxpayers cost. Anything we can do to keep

1982
04:11:29,776 --> 04:11:33,195
costs down by looking after what we have more responsibly.

1983
04:11:33,195 --> 04:11:35,595
It's reports like this that do it down. So let's

1984
04:11:35,635 --> 04:11:39,035
just call it nature's water lines and sewer pipes and

1985
04:11:39,075 --> 04:11:42,075
retaining walls. So, uh, keep it down simple like that.

1986
04:11:42,075 --> 04:11:45,915
It's an overly complicated document. We just underneed the high

1987
04:11:45,915 --> 04:11:47,915
level. And that's where we have talented staff like you

1988
04:11:47,936 --> 04:11:51,435
that have those titles beside your name that really enjoy

1989
04:11:51,435 --> 04:11:58,607
those extra 200 pages. Councillor Finley. Thanks for smear. Dr.

1990
04:11:58,607 --> 04:12:02,547
Preekshad, I want to make sure I fully understand this.

1991
04:12:02,547 --> 04:12:04,307
So you're saying the five billion dollars worth of assets

1992
04:12:04,328 --> 04:12:06,867
in North Council, but North County doesn't own those five

1993
04:12:06,907 --> 04:12:10,867
billion dollar assets. They are privately owned like the creeks

1994
04:12:10,907 --> 04:12:13,027
and rivers and add around by the crown, if I

1995
04:12:13,027 --> 04:12:17,347
understand correctly. So this is a overarching five billion dollar

1996
04:12:17,347 --> 04:12:23,319
asset natural asset valuation for private and public lands. Yeah.

1997
04:12:23,319 --> 04:12:28,999
Thanks for the question. That's, that's right. It's the primary

1998
04:12:29,039 --> 04:12:33,319
method of valuing these assets was essentially asking the question.

1999
04:12:34,286 --> 04:12:37,625
What would it cost to build something to do what

2000
04:12:37,625 --> 04:12:42,740
this thing is already doing for free. But, but a

2001
04:12:42,740 --> 04:12:45,300
great example of, of how it's not actually for free

2002
04:12:45,881 --> 04:12:49,860
is when the Shimanous River broke its bank, we no

2003
04:12:49,900 --> 04:12:54,340
longer had that natural asset performing its most important service

2004
04:12:54,361 --> 04:12:59,220
on November 15th on that year, which was taking stormwater

2005
04:12:59,220 --> 04:13:01,220
to the ocean. And so we had to go in

2006
04:13:01,260 --> 04:13:04,820
with the provincial emergency management team. Uh, with the Ministry

2007
04:13:04,820 --> 04:13:08,460
of Environment. And we had to restore flooded lands. We

2008
04:13:08,460 --> 04:13:11,140
had to restore channels. And so we wound up doing

2009
04:13:11,401 --> 04:13:15,780
all of this disaster response stuff, which is essentially natural

2010
04:13:15,820 --> 04:13:19,380
asset management. Um, and we did it because we hadn't

2011
04:13:19,401 --> 04:13:24,340
really thought ahead. And so we're not saying either that

2012
04:13:24,340 --> 04:13:27,700
we need to manage all the assets, but we can

2013
04:13:27,740 --> 04:13:30,180
pick some that we think that's a place where we

2014
04:13:30,180 --> 04:13:33,860
could really make a difference and avoid that crisis response.

2015
04:13:33,860 --> 04:13:37,380
And in cases like, uh, where we have grey infrastructure

2016
04:13:37,801 --> 04:13:40,717
that already exists. Sometimes we can help it. So for

2017
04:13:40,717 --> 04:13:43,677
example, if you can flood certain areas that are protected

2018
04:13:43,717 --> 04:13:47,837
by the dike, maybe the dike and the pumps associated

2019
04:13:47,877 --> 04:13:49,757
with the dike don't have to work as hard during

2020
04:13:49,797 --> 04:13:53,117
storm events because you've got a sacrificial area that you're

2021
04:13:53,157 --> 04:13:55,517
allowing to flood. So it's looking for opportunities like that.

2022
04:13:57,644 --> 04:14:00,103
Follow. So in the case of Shimani's river, let's use

2023
04:14:00,103 --> 04:14:03,383
that because you just talked about it. Um, one of

2024
04:14:03,383 --> 04:14:05,623
the suggestions that we've heard from farmers in the area,

2025
04:14:05,623 --> 04:14:07,543
including Mr. Ellingham and the crowd here is to get

2026
04:14:07,543 --> 04:14:09,303
in there and take out the gravel. But we don't

2027
04:14:09,324 --> 04:14:11,863
own that. Um, so in the case of the implementation

2028
04:14:11,884 --> 04:14:14,183
plan, maybe one of the recommendations is to do more

2029
04:14:14,284 --> 04:14:17,303
gravel removal. How do we do that when we don't

2030
04:14:17,324 --> 04:14:21,383
own it? And our taxpayer is taken on that, that

2031
04:14:21,423 --> 04:14:25,063
cost and risk. Yeah. It's a great point. And that's

2032
04:14:25,063 --> 04:14:26,503
actually where the rubber is going to hit the road.

2033
04:14:29,037 --> 04:14:33,156
On developing a prioritization plan is identifying those opportunities. And

2034
04:14:34,077 --> 04:14:37,096
you're right. Uh, the gravel removal and the shamanus river

2035
04:14:37,136 --> 04:14:38,936
is something that a lot of folks have talked about

2036
04:14:39,917 --> 04:14:44,616
all property owners, uh, municipal staff, um, but the province

2037
04:14:44,656 --> 04:14:46,856
has actually been fairly adamant that that's not something they

2038
04:14:46,877 --> 04:14:49,096
really want to get behind. And so there will be

2039
04:14:49,136 --> 04:14:53,656
cases where, uh, we're going to have to think long

2040
04:14:53,696 --> 04:14:56,756
and hard about where we can move the dial. And

2041
04:14:56,756 --> 04:14:59,896
I think like something like Bing's Creek is a more

2042
04:14:59,936 --> 04:15:03,576
tractable and early, easy example of, of where we would

2043
04:15:03,616 --> 04:15:06,216
be able to move the dial. Um, but there are

2044
04:15:06,256 --> 04:15:08,536
bigger picture stories, which maybe we can be part of

2045
04:15:08,557 --> 04:15:11,736
as well. Uh, I'm sure Halal would be a very

2046
04:15:11,917 --> 04:15:14,856
willing participant in a discussion on how we should be

2047
04:15:14,957 --> 04:15:17,736
managing gravel in the shaman as river. And this would

2048
04:15:17,736 --> 04:15:19,496
be a natural avenue to help that make more sense

2049
04:15:19,597 --> 04:15:24,819
for North Cowlican. Thanks. Councillor Justice. He had just following

2050
04:15:24,819 --> 04:15:28,179
up on that number 5. 3 billion. Cause I think

2051
04:15:28,280 --> 04:15:33,459
that may mislead a few people. Um, and tell me

2052
04:15:33,499 --> 04:15:36,419
if I'm right as I understand, take an example of

2053
04:15:36,600 --> 04:15:41,549
a little creek running through a property. I mean, it

2054
04:15:41,570 --> 04:15:45,309
may provide many, many, it's not the value of that.

2055
04:15:46,512 --> 04:15:51,771
Creep, that create provides habitat, biodiversity, and maybe some enjoyment

2056
04:15:52,112 --> 04:15:54,571
for people who play in it or walk along it

2057
04:15:54,752 --> 04:15:56,979
or that sort of thing. The value we're talking about

2058
04:15:57,320 --> 04:16:01,699
is what it would take because when it starts raining,

2059
04:16:01,720 --> 04:16:04,959
water flows away from that property in the creek. And

2060
04:16:04,959 --> 04:16:08,259
if that creek was not there or was destroyed or

2061
04:16:08,280 --> 04:16:13,059
filled in or something, the cost of replacing that drainage

2062
04:16:13,099 --> 04:16:17,939
service alone is what that cumulative five point three billion

2063
04:16:17,979 --> 04:16:21,061
dollars, is that right? Um, That's right. Um, in the

2064
04:16:21,061 --> 04:16:24,021
case of the small creek like you're describing, it would

2065
04:16:24,061 --> 04:16:27,781
probably be two main things. One would be erosion control.

2066
04:16:27,781 --> 04:16:30,821
And the other would be stormwater conveyance. So that would

2067
04:16:30,842 --> 04:16:33,461
effectively be what would cost to put in a pipe.

2068
04:16:34,109 --> 04:16:38,334
Along or a culvert along that length of land. And

2069
04:16:38,435 --> 04:16:42,574
that sort of is applied to all the waterways and

2070
04:16:42,595 --> 04:16:45,614
the forests for those sorts of service. Other services that

2071
04:16:45,635 --> 04:16:49,614
come in are pollution mitigation. And, uh, but yeah, the

2072
04:16:49,635 --> 04:16:51,774
vast majority of the value that you saw in that,

2073
04:16:51,814 --> 04:16:56,014
that one graph is looking, it's associated with, with stormwater

2074
04:16:56,014 --> 04:16:59,826
stuff. Right. Just to make the point, that 5. 3

2075
04:17:00,247 --> 04:17:05,106
billion is just a minuscule portion of the pricelessness of

2076
04:17:05,767 --> 04:17:14,722
our natural assets. Obviously. All right, Dr. Preakshat1, uh, recognise

2077
04:17:14,743 --> 04:17:17,282
all the effort that, uh, you and your team and

2078
04:17:17,322 --> 04:17:20,642
the, uh, consultants from urban systems put into preparing this

2079
04:17:20,903 --> 04:17:23,582
as was noted, it's eight years in the making, but

2080
04:17:23,582 --> 04:17:26,402
it's going to be a valuable resource for, uh, the

2081
04:17:26,583 --> 04:17:30,242
future council and for staff going forward. When we think

2082
04:17:30,282 --> 04:17:32,642
of, uh, assets, I think most of us tend to

2083
04:17:32,642 --> 04:17:35,902
think of the engineered assets. The roads, the bridges, the

2084
04:17:35,943 --> 04:17:37,922
water mains and sewer mains. We know that those are

2085
04:17:38,503 --> 04:17:42,802
expensive to build. Um, expensive maintain and even more expensive,

2086
04:17:42,802 --> 04:17:46,162
uh, two replace. But as we've learned from this report

2087
04:17:46,202 --> 04:17:49,842
before us, uh, these natural assets throughout our municipality, whether

2088
04:17:49,863 --> 04:17:53,362
it's forests or lakes or the cosine or the wetlands

2089
04:17:54,023 --> 04:18:00,642
have a value of, um, that they provide to the

2090
04:18:00,823 --> 04:18:04,722
municipality and the residents. And that includes, you know, erosion

2091
04:18:04,743 --> 04:18:10,162
control, um, stormwater conveyance and detention, uh, climate regulation, water

2092
04:18:10,263 --> 04:18:13,912
purification. And with this, uh, this document before us, we

2093
04:18:14,053 --> 04:18:16,592
have a menu of options to consider in terms of

2094
04:18:16,693 --> 04:18:20,252
how we want to not only maintain, but also, uh,

2095
04:18:20,293 --> 04:18:22,512
enhance these assets. And as we've seen with the case

2096
04:18:22,533 --> 04:18:25,472
study of, uh, the Bings Creek watershed, um, that has

2097
04:18:26,453 --> 04:18:29,152
evaluation of, uh, 48 million dollars in terms of the

2098
04:18:29,413 --> 04:18:34,032
services it's providing our community. And the report from Urban

2099
04:18:34,032 --> 04:18:36,512
Systems has outlined a whole series of actions. We can

2100
04:18:36,552 --> 04:18:40,992
take, um, again, protect and maintain and restore that asset

2101
04:18:41,013 --> 04:18:44,832
recognising that the different reaches of Bing's creaker and are

2102
04:18:44,832 --> 04:18:48,192
much different conditions depending on the level of development to

2103
04:18:48,232 --> 04:18:51,330
date. So I'm excited to see the municipal to get

2104
04:18:51,370 --> 04:18:54,530
working on the prioritization plan. I hope the REST account

2105
04:18:54,631 --> 04:18:58,610
sol feels the same. We have recommendation before us wondering

2106
04:18:58,631 --> 04:19:01,650
if someone would like to move that, move by Councillor

2107
04:19:01,671 --> 04:19:06,645
Stash, seconded by Councillor Calio. Any discussion. So this is

2108
04:19:06,645 --> 04:19:09,525
to adopt the strategy and also direct staff to work

2109
04:19:09,525 --> 04:19:13,285
with our environmental advisory committee to prepare the prioritization plan.

2110
04:19:14,315 --> 04:19:18,557
Call the question that all in favor. And opposed. Menapose

2111
04:19:18,597 --> 04:19:23,890
motion carries. It was not opposed, right? All right. Okay.

2112
04:19:24,653 --> 04:19:27,032
We're now going to move on to item 11. 4.

2113
04:19:27,032 --> 04:19:29,912
Mr. Swayby. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, this report from staff

2114
04:19:30,173 --> 04:19:34,632
is regarding the ecom service fees and projected cost increases,

2115
04:19:34,632 --> 04:19:39,512
uh, for 2027 to 2029. The recommendations that Council receive

2116
04:19:39,693 --> 04:19:43,512
the Ecom service fee projected cost increases for that time

2117
04:19:43,613 --> 04:19:47,112
frame from the director of financial services for information only.

2118
04:19:49,658 --> 04:19:52,757
So we do have a recommendation. I will just comment,

2119
04:19:52,757 --> 04:19:55,797
uh, for, for counseling members, the Public who may be

2120
04:19:55,797 --> 04:19:59,157
watching this meeting that we, uh, as a municipally, like

2121
04:19:59,157 --> 04:20:02,357
so many others are struggling with, with escalating costs and

2122
04:20:02,357 --> 04:20:05,269
a whole range of areas. With infrastructure being one of

2123
04:20:05,269 --> 04:20:08,469
them. What's frustrating though, is that we're continuously having these

2124
04:20:08,570 --> 04:20:11,429
new costs, uh, downloaded on us from the senior levels

2125
04:20:11,469 --> 04:20:14,709
of government. So with the ecom service, um, for the

2126
04:20:14,749 --> 04:20:16,709
nine - in - one one calls, that was historically

2127
04:20:16,810 --> 04:20:19,829
a service that was paid for by the scene levels

2128
04:20:19,829 --> 04:20:24,869
of government. We, uh, we were informed, previous Council that

2129
04:20:24,909 --> 04:20:26,469
that was going to be downloaded, but luckily we did

2130
04:20:26,570 --> 04:20:30,149
get an extension on that. As Council recall, we organised

2131
04:20:30,170 --> 04:20:32,869
the other municipalities across Southern Vancouver Island. We did a

2132
04:20:32,909 --> 04:20:35,809
whole press conference and the steps of the legislature. Bit

2133
04:20:35,809 --> 04:20:38,469
of a Hail Mary. Unfortunately, um, we didn't get any

2134
04:20:38,890 --> 04:20:40,789
reprie from the province on that. So now we are

2135
04:20:41,450 --> 04:20:45,829
facing significant new costs that are being downloaded onto us.

2136
04:20:45,829 --> 04:20:49,189
And it's, again, frustrating that, um, it's one thing to

2137
04:20:49,210 --> 04:20:54,149
be, say, raising property taxes on residents and businesses knowing

2138
04:20:54,149 --> 04:20:56,149
that that money is going to be going to infrastructure

2139
04:20:56,330 --> 04:21:00,149
improvements or enhancements and services. But if something altogether to

2140
04:21:00,149 --> 04:21:03,989
be paying for costs that were traditionally provided by the

2141
04:21:04,490 --> 04:21:12,940
senior levels of government. Councillor Cayo. Thanks, Mayor. Couldn't agree

2142
04:21:12,980 --> 04:21:16,140
with you more. I mean, everything you've said was right

2143
04:21:16,180 --> 04:21:21,073
on. Um, I do have a question for, um, finance.

2144
04:21:21,073 --> 04:21:24,753
And that is, um, how many jurisdictions in the province

2145
04:21:24,793 --> 04:21:32,089
right now are paying ecom costs. It's better. Uh, thank

2146
04:21:32,089 --> 04:21:35,529
you for the question. Um, as far as I can

2147
04:21:35,569 --> 04:21:39,049
see, only the 10 South An Municipality so far are

2148
04:21:39,049 --> 04:21:45,770
in this funding arrangement. And one last question is what

2149
04:21:45,791 --> 04:21:49,770
percentage has the ecom costs gone up since we've incurred

2150
04:21:49,810 --> 04:21:58,675
them. From 2025 to 2027, almost 69 percent. 663, 000

2151
04:21:58,696 --> 04:22:02,515
was in 2025. However, the senior levels of government did

2152
04:22:02,616 --> 04:22:07,380
fund the first quarter. This year was 884, 000 and

2153
04:22:07,420 --> 04:22:11,220
next year it's expected to be 1, 119. And what

2154
04:22:11,321 --> 04:22:14,260
1. 5 million in 2029. Yeah. So it's 1. 5

2155
04:22:14,300 --> 04:22:17,540
million dollars in new costs that fall on our taxpayers

2156
04:22:17,801 --> 04:22:20,500
that wasn't the case a few years. And only 10

2157
04:22:20,540 --> 04:22:22,660
communities in the whole province are paying it. And all

2158
04:22:22,660 --> 04:22:27,380
of the run the southern Vancouver Island, Mr. Murray Justify,

2159
04:22:27,380 --> 04:22:31,220
there is more than 10 communities. Ecom started as a

2160
04:22:31,220 --> 04:22:35,460
radio dispatch governance. Part of the lobbying effort that the

2161
04:22:35,481 --> 04:22:39,060
South Island Municipalities were successful in getting was that the

2162
04:22:39,161 --> 04:22:41,620
province would undertake a review of the service given that

2163
04:22:41,881 --> 04:22:46,580
it's expanding its type of service delivery to municipalities. That

2164
04:22:46,580 --> 04:22:50,340
report came out earlier this year. That report resulted in

2165
04:22:50,380 --> 04:22:54,260
a whole bunch of, uh, new recommendations for governance of

2166
04:22:54,260 --> 04:22:57,440
which we have one representation on the board now, but

2167
04:22:57,481 --> 04:23:00,660
the more changes made in the future. Uh, they've also

2168
04:23:00,921 --> 04:23:04,340
recognised that their capital costs of their delivery of their

2169
04:23:04,380 --> 04:23:07,780
service wasn't being picked up by the island communities and

2170
04:23:07,820 --> 04:23:09,700
that or any communities and that they needed to include

2171
04:23:09,721 --> 04:23:13,380
their capital costs and how their funding model. So this,

2172
04:23:13,380 --> 04:23:15,940
although this was a downloaded service, this is now a

2173
04:23:15,980 --> 04:23:18,740
contract with a service provider who is trying to make

2174
04:23:18,740 --> 04:23:21,940
sure that they capture the real cost for delivering the

2175
04:23:21,961 --> 04:23:25,460
services. So we have gone through an extensive process with,

2176
04:23:25,460 --> 04:23:28,640
uh, ecom to understand why the costs are the way

2177
04:23:28,640 --> 04:23:32,180
they are. Uh, they will keep continue to go up.

2178
04:23:32,180 --> 04:23:35,140
Uh, is our expectation as they develop new facilities to

2179
04:23:35,161 --> 04:23:38,900
deliver their service. Uh, the one Hail Mary still is

2180
04:23:38,940 --> 04:23:43,860
that there's no charges for cell phones to return to,

2181
04:23:43,860 --> 04:23:46,580
uh, this service to help offset the cost. Like in

2182
04:23:46,580 --> 04:23:50,420
most other provinces. And that lobby can be continued by

2183
04:23:51,161 --> 04:23:54,260
our Council in the future. Um, as we move this

2184
04:23:54,361 --> 04:23:57,780
forward, there are no other providers that have capacity to

2185
04:23:57,961 --> 04:24:01,940
take this on. Uh, all the CAOs are, uh, working

2186
04:24:01,961 --> 04:24:05,100
with, uh, other organisations to see if they want to

2187
04:24:05,161 --> 04:24:07,860
increase their capacity. But at this point, this is the

2188
04:24:07,900 --> 04:24:10,980
only game in town. And these are the actual costs.

2189
04:24:10,980 --> 04:24:14,020
And we're confident that they are the cost as high

2190
04:24:14,060 --> 04:24:17,521
as they are. And as unbelievable as they can sound.

2191
04:24:22,244 --> 04:24:25,023
With someone like to move the, uh, recommendation to receive

2192
04:24:25,023 --> 04:24:29,183
the report moved by Councillor Calio, seconded by Councillor Finley.

2193
04:24:29,183 --> 04:24:32,223
Any discussion all in favor and opposed, not opposed motion

2194
04:24:32,223 --> 04:24:36,288
carries. And then we move on to 11. 5. Thank

2195
04:24:36,288 --> 04:24:40,048
you, Mr. Mayor. This is the Community Amenity Contributions Negotiations,

2196
04:24:40,048 --> 04:24:43,228
which you had a delegation earlier today speak to. The

2197
04:24:43,228 --> 04:24:46,128
purpose is to present for Council consideration of the applicants

2198
04:24:46,149 --> 04:24:50,208
request to negotiate a reduced community amenity contribution rate for

2199
04:24:50,309 --> 04:24:57,178
Bylaw 4077 on 3037 and 3047 West Hill Place. The

2200
04:24:57,178 --> 04:25:00,778
recommendation from staff is that Council declines the applicants proposed

2201
04:25:01,279 --> 04:25:05,914
amenity contribution. To 2, 500 dollars to the short -

2202
04:25:05,914 --> 04:25:09,914
term infrastructure community, our CAC fund and 1000 dollars to

2203
04:25:09,914 --> 04:25:13,754
the Affordable Housing CAC fund associated with zone amendment bylaw

2204
04:25:13,754 --> 04:25:18,074
number 4077 for the properties located at 30, 37, 30,

2205
04:25:18,074 --> 04:25:24,312
47 West Till Place. Council Stash. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2206
04:25:24,333 --> 04:25:26,072
I've got two questions. I don't know if the second

2207
04:25:26,093 --> 04:25:31,912
one is more for Mr. Osborne or if Mr. Farkas

2208
04:25:31,912 --> 04:25:34,472
can answer both of them. It's the two parts in

2209
04:25:34,573 --> 04:25:40,072
there, um, when we first part is, um, being that

2210
04:25:40,493 --> 04:25:45,492
it's kind of Mr. Farcus's, he's very intimate on, uh,

2211
04:25:45,853 --> 04:25:49,352
speaking on the scales of economy and was instrumental in

2212
04:25:49,352 --> 04:25:51,752
the support of bringing that land economist in. And just

2213
04:25:51,792 --> 04:25:55,352
quickly, if you could speak to the landlift cost that

2214
04:25:55,352 --> 04:25:58,632
come through subdivision and change in zoning, which increases a

2215
04:25:58,632 --> 04:26:02,792
property owner's property value, uh, when they are successful in

2216
04:26:02,792 --> 04:26:07,272
subdivision. Is the DCCs are increases to where they are

2217
04:26:07,293 --> 04:26:10,552
now was merely as we're just attempting to have some

2218
04:26:10,813 --> 04:26:14,132
cost recoveries in part in there as well. So, uh,

2219
04:26:14,653 --> 04:26:17,512
just trying to find some more rationalization on while there

2220
04:26:17,533 --> 04:26:20,872
is an increase in current cost to the homeowner. Part

2221
04:26:20,872 --> 04:26:23,352
of it is for actual cost recoveries. And then in

2222
04:26:23,392 --> 04:26:27,752
second part is, uh, out of this process, while there

2223
04:26:27,752 --> 04:26:31,752
is up front cost to the municipality, there is a,

2224
04:26:31,752 --> 04:26:35,352
uh, increase in property value for the property owner. Thank

2225
04:26:35,392 --> 04:26:38,312
you. Thank you very much for the question. I won't

2226
04:26:38,333 --> 04:26:40,872
speculate around what the land lift might be. That would

2227
04:26:40,872 --> 04:26:44,472
be very difficult to do. But clearly single family lots,

2228
04:26:44,472 --> 04:26:48,072
uh, provide quite a huge market price. So that's easy

2229
04:26:48,112 --> 04:26:51,272
enough to sort of identify. But one thing I'd like

2230
04:26:51,272 --> 04:26:54,312
to remind Council of is, you know, this policy was

2231
04:26:54,352 --> 04:26:57,432
put in place as a stopgap measure, uh, given that

2232
04:26:57,453 --> 04:27:01,332
the municipality is running a pretty large infrastructure deficit. And

2233
04:27:01,332 --> 04:27:03,752
it was meant as a stopgap measure up until we

2234
04:27:03,752 --> 04:27:06,472
have the DCCs in place. So really what we're doing

2235
04:27:06,493 --> 04:27:10,152
here is charging, uh, early on and it needs to

2236
04:27:10,152 --> 04:27:13,992
be negotiated process through rezoning. Um, what we would normally

2237
04:27:14,253 --> 04:27:18,152
capture in DCCs. Right. So one point of clarity for

2238
04:27:18,333 --> 04:27:22,472
Council is we're not charging for sewer water given that

2239
04:27:22,512 --> 04:27:24,472
they're out of the water and sewer area. So really

2240
04:27:25,293 --> 04:27:27,912
what the fees that are attracted here really for Parks

2241
04:27:27,912 --> 04:27:31,592
and Rhodes. Uh, certainly have heard arguments from the applicant

2242
04:27:31,632 --> 04:27:34,632
that, uh, you know, for family reasons, this is what's

2243
04:27:34,672 --> 04:27:38,632
driving, uh, their need to subdivide. But of course as

2244
04:27:38,632 --> 04:27:41,592
Council is quite familiar with, um, the rights don't go

2245
04:27:41,592 --> 04:27:44,472
to the owner. They go to the property. And there's

2246
04:27:44,472 --> 04:27:47,912
nothing stopping a future owner or even these owners from

2247
04:27:48,173 --> 04:27:53,012
eventually moving forward with additional units in increasing density. And

2248
04:27:53,053 --> 04:27:55,352
clearly when we're planning for infrastructure, we need to think

2249
04:27:55,392 --> 04:27:58,632
about the long - term implications. Right. So again, this

2250
04:27:58,672 --> 04:28:02,952
is a stopgap measure. Uh, there's been a standard methodology

2251
04:28:03,213 --> 04:28:07,032
applied where these applicants were treated fairly and consistently with

2252
04:28:07,133 --> 04:28:10,792
other applicants. And I would also just remind Council as

2253
04:28:10,832 --> 04:28:15,112
we move forward with the DCC bylaw, uh, single family

2254
04:28:15,373 --> 04:28:19,112
lots would be subject like they are today to full

2255
04:28:19,152 --> 04:28:25,109
fees through the bylaw. Turn to Councillor Manhas. Then Council,

2256
04:28:25,149 --> 04:28:27,989
Justice, and Finley, but just a question for, uh, Mr.

2257
04:28:28,170 --> 04:28:31,269
Farkas. So you mentioned that there is an increase in

2258
04:28:31,370 --> 04:28:34,629
density associated with this application. Although the applicant has stated

2259
04:28:35,130 --> 04:28:37,269
in the written submission that there isn't an increase in

2260
04:28:37,290 --> 04:28:42,678
density, could you clarify that. So absolutely there's an increase

2261
04:28:42,718 --> 04:28:46,118
of density of two units. But I will point out,

2262
04:28:46,118 --> 04:28:49,638
unlike DCCs, where they get paid at building permit time,

2263
04:28:49,638 --> 04:28:52,038
when the clear knowledge that buildings are coming forward for

2264
04:28:52,139 --> 04:28:54,918
authorization for a building permit, this is somewhat of a

2265
04:28:54,958 --> 04:28:58,198
unique situation that it is true that while we're still

2266
04:28:58,238 --> 04:29:00,918
charging for those extra units, because there is a cost

2267
04:29:00,939 --> 04:29:03,878
associated with that, uh, there could be no intent from

2268
04:29:03,918 --> 04:29:07,698
these current owners to bring forward any future applications. The

2269
04:29:07,698 --> 04:29:10,358
challenge we have is, unless we capture the fees up

2270
04:29:10,398 --> 04:29:14,998
front, we're not in a position legally to charge any

2271
04:29:15,019 --> 04:29:17,878
additional fees if, for example, they do come forward with

2272
04:29:18,379 --> 04:29:22,588
subsequent applications. All right. And I would remind Council as

2273
04:29:22,628 --> 04:29:26,028
well. We did recently have a similar request from an

2274
04:29:26,068 --> 04:29:32,268
applicant to, uh, reduce the, uh, short term infrastructure contribution.

2275
04:29:32,268 --> 04:29:34,668
So that was the June 17th meeting. We had a

2276
04:29:34,708 --> 04:29:38,908
request from St. Michael's Null Angels, Anglocan Church and Chemanus.

2277
04:29:39,009 --> 04:29:43,628
And if you recall, um, they had a home on

2278
04:29:43,628 --> 04:29:45,948
the property there that they rent towed as a source

2279
04:29:45,948 --> 04:29:48,588
of revenue for the church, which is obviously nonprofit. They

2280
04:29:48,628 --> 04:29:51,548
were looking to increase the density of that from one

2281
04:29:51,588 --> 04:29:53,548
to two units to put a, to put a suite

2282
04:29:53,548 --> 04:29:56,988
in there. And at the time Council did decline that

2283
04:29:57,089 --> 04:29:59,388
request. I believe I was the only one who did

2284
04:29:59,489 --> 04:30:01,948
vote to accommodate it. But it was a six to

2285
04:30:01,988 --> 04:30:05,948
one vote to decline that request from that, uh, nonprofit

2286
04:30:06,209 --> 04:30:10,028
applicant to waive the contribution for the short - term

2287
04:30:10,028 --> 04:30:15,308
infrastructure contribution as outlined under our community amenities, contribution policy.

2288
04:30:15,783 --> 04:30:19,905
So I'm not going to, yeah, miss you. Uh, just

2289
04:30:19,926 --> 04:30:22,865
to offer some further clarification on what is being requested

2290
04:30:22,886 --> 04:30:28,065
of the applicant, we are not requesting the CACs for

2291
04:30:28,105 --> 04:30:31,585
the additional units. This does increase density and that it

2292
04:30:31,585 --> 04:30:34,865
increases the allowable units on this piece of land by

2293
04:30:35,046 --> 04:30:38,945
two, um, because they're currently allowed to per lot two

2294
04:30:38,945 --> 04:30:41,825
lots. Then they'll be allowed to, but the current, what

2295
04:30:41,865 --> 04:30:45,905
we're currently asking for with the CACs is three times

2296
04:30:46,406 --> 04:30:51,825
the DCCs for the creation of an additional lot. It's

2297
04:30:51,926 --> 04:30:54,865
not for additional units that may or may not be

2298
04:30:54,886 --> 04:30:58,125
built in the future. Those units would be charged. The

2299
04:30:58,125 --> 04:31:01,265
DCC rates applicable at the time that they apply for

2300
04:31:01,366 --> 04:31:06,145
building permit. Great. Thank you. I brought Councillor Manhouse and

2301
04:31:06,145 --> 04:31:08,625
then Council of Justice and Councillor Finley. Thank you, Mr.

2302
04:31:08,726 --> 04:31:11,745
Meyer. I like to move that Council accepts that applicants

2303
04:31:11,766 --> 04:31:19,514
propose Community Menity Contribution of 3, 500 dollars. I cannot

2304
04:31:19,554 --> 04:31:22,100
see a second. Oh, did you second it? Second Amy

2305
04:31:22,100 --> 04:31:23,700
by Councillor Finley. All right. You want to speak to

2306
04:31:23,721 --> 04:31:27,655
it? Yeah. To me, this is just a line. Between

2307
04:31:27,916 --> 04:31:30,717
two lots. It's not, so the house is already there.

2308
04:31:30,717 --> 04:31:33,597
Everything's already there. I think this is pretty straightforward for

2309
04:31:33,637 --> 04:31:36,077
us. For me, anyways, you know, we're going to get

2310
04:31:36,117 --> 04:31:38,297
an increase and we're going to get increase in, um,

2311
04:31:38,498 --> 04:31:43,517
in property taxes with this additional separate lot. Um, I

2312
04:31:43,517 --> 04:31:46,082
think the 3, 500 euro is very fair. It's not

2313
04:31:46,103 --> 04:31:48,782
no increase for infrastructure costs or anything for us. Uh,

2314
04:31:48,782 --> 04:31:53,185
so I think 3, 500 is fair. Council of Justice.

2315
04:31:54,463 --> 04:31:59,098
Thank you. I've got a question for staff. Um, and

2316
04:31:59,098 --> 04:32:01,978
then I'd like to also speak to it. The question

2317
04:32:01,978 --> 04:32:05,658
is this is a little unusual. It's sort of part

2318
04:32:05,658 --> 04:32:09,985
of a negotiation. So although I acknowledge that the motion

2319
04:32:10,006 --> 04:32:13,745
is made to accept the offer, if we declined the

2320
04:32:13,846 --> 04:32:18,994
offer, um, we'd still be in a negotiation. Right? Or

2321
04:32:19,495 --> 04:32:21,314
just would this somehow end it and they would be

2322
04:32:21,354 --> 04:32:24,989
obliged to pay the full amount of asked. Miss Young

2323
04:32:25,490 --> 04:32:28,319
or Mr. Farkas. Miss Yao? Uh, thank you for the

2324
04:32:28,500 --> 04:32:34,559
question. Um, yes, you can still. What we have, what

2325
04:32:34,580 --> 04:32:36,799
staff I put forward is what is in the adopted

2326
04:32:37,380 --> 04:32:40,959
CAC policy from Council. If Council wished to propose something

2327
04:32:41,060 --> 04:32:45,119
other than that amount or what the applicant has proposed,

2328
04:32:45,119 --> 04:32:49,587
that's within Council's purview. I think maybe, uh, a nuance

2329
04:32:49,627 --> 04:32:53,827
to that if the question was also asking is the

2330
04:32:53,827 --> 04:32:56,707
negotiation still open. I think we heard the applicant state.

2331
04:32:56,707 --> 04:33:00,367
This is an unusual situation to negotiate and open. Uh,

2332
04:33:00,367 --> 04:33:03,587
so they're putting forward their best case scenario. But if,

2333
04:33:03,627 --> 04:33:06,787
if Council wanted to send us back, probably you would

2334
04:33:06,787 --> 04:33:10,387
send us back to see if there's, uh, any movement

2335
04:33:10,408 --> 04:33:16,768
between what we're asking and what they're asking. Do you

2336
04:33:16,768 --> 04:33:19,648
have a statement to make now? Yeah. Our comment. Yeah.

2337
04:33:19,648 --> 04:33:23,578
Uh. Thank you. So I won't be supporting the motion

2338
04:33:23,618 --> 04:33:29,273
to accept this reduction in the community amenity contribution. Um,

2339
04:33:29,454 --> 04:33:34,953
these costs associated with additional development potential. A real future

2340
04:33:34,974 --> 04:33:40,213
costs. Even if they're not immediate costs. Um, we should

2341
04:33:40,474 --> 04:33:45,507
therefore assess this application based on the development rights. Being

2342
04:33:45,547 --> 04:33:50,927
created and not simply on the applicants current intentions. Um,

2343
04:33:51,288 --> 04:33:56,727
this application does significantly increase the development. Right to the

2344
04:33:56,727 --> 04:34:00,407
property. And although the applicant's intention may be to simply

2345
04:34:00,428 --> 04:34:06,567
provide properties for family members, um, ownership can change in

2346
04:34:06,567 --> 04:34:12,321
the additional development potential will remain. Um, future additional homes

2347
04:34:12,321 --> 04:34:18,508
will, as we've heard. Eventually place demands on municipal infrastructure

2348
04:34:18,849 --> 04:34:24,424
and parks, transportation, other services. And those are costs, the

2349
04:34:24,424 --> 04:34:28,202
municipality will have to address in the future. Um, reducing

2350
04:34:28,383 --> 04:34:35,322
CACs is merely asking future taxpayers to subsidize this reduction.

2351
04:34:37,346 --> 04:34:40,605
Um, and this actually is a really good example of

2352
04:34:40,645 --> 04:34:45,555
how we got into our Big fat infrastructure debt. We

2353
04:34:45,576 --> 04:34:50,035
absolutely need to insist that people creating costs are covering

2354
04:34:50,075 --> 04:34:53,955
those costs instead of letting them fall to our children.

2355
04:34:54,467 --> 04:34:58,609
And other future taxpayers. So I think it's a real

2356
04:34:58,649 --> 04:35:03,009
mistake to start, you know, going, Oh yeah, yeah, no,

2357
04:35:03,009 --> 04:35:04,849
we can reduce that. Well, it's not going to cost

2358
04:35:04,889 --> 04:35:07,009
us anything right now. Cause it is going to cost

2359
04:35:07,009 --> 04:35:08,634
us. It's just, it's going to be our kids after

2360
04:35:08,735 --> 04:35:17,654
pay. Councillor Finley. Thanks Mr. Mayor question for Miss Young.

2361
04:35:17,654 --> 04:35:20,774
You said that, uh, let's say this, this does get

2362
04:35:20,875 --> 04:35:23,325
subdivided in 10 years from now. One of the property

2363
04:35:23,365 --> 04:35:27,965
owners decides to add another residence on that property. That

2364
04:35:27,965 --> 04:35:31,951
application will trigger DCCs. On that new unit. Is that

2365
04:35:31,991 --> 04:35:38,230
correct? That is correct. This proposal, um, the CAC's proposed

2366
04:35:38,270 --> 04:35:41,750
right now are for the creation of an additional lot.

2367
04:35:41,750 --> 04:35:46,198
Right. Okay. Um. Yeah, my position hasn't changed on this.

2368
04:35:46,198 --> 04:35:49,478
I think, uh, you know, the acceptance, 3, 500 is

2369
04:35:49,478 --> 04:35:52,278
the right thing. Um, and it comes down to something

2370
04:35:52,699 --> 04:35:55,318
Councillor Justice said earlier about thrown sand in the air.

2371
04:35:55,318 --> 04:35:56,758
And what harm does it affect on the people around.

2372
04:35:57,135 --> 04:35:58,874
And so that's where I'm hanging my hat on this

2373
04:35:58,895 --> 04:36:03,155
one. So I'll be in favor of the motion. Any

2374
04:36:03,155 --> 04:36:11,126
further discussion Councillor Kelly. Thanks Mayor.

2375
04:36:12,825 --> 04:36:15,124
Yeah, I'm in support of the production of the CAC's

2376
04:36:15,305 --> 04:36:20,642
amounts, um, and also the Affordable Housing Contribution. This family

2377
04:36:20,743 --> 04:36:23,909
is not a large developer. Um, they're a mom and

2378
04:36:23,930 --> 04:36:27,989
pop family looking for a splitting of one five acre

2379
04:36:27,989 --> 04:36:32,789
property into two 2. 5 acre properties so that they

2380
04:36:32,789 --> 04:36:35,189
can have a fee simple so that one of their

2381
04:36:35,450 --> 04:36:39,189
family can have, uh, a feasible home to live in.

2382
04:36:41,530 --> 04:36:43,909
They've already paid out thousands of dollars to this point.

2383
04:36:46,318 --> 04:36:52,444
And. There's absolutely no cost incurred by municipality because they

2384
04:36:52,444 --> 04:36:56,276
have their own sewer and their own water. Yes. You

2385
04:36:56,276 --> 04:37:00,916
know, we will be reducing the CACs. But I honestly,

2386
04:37:00,937 --> 04:37:04,516
the amount that we're reducing our CAC is not going

2387
04:37:04,516 --> 04:37:09,260
to affect North Collins. We have a big fat infrastructure

2388
04:37:09,921 --> 04:37:13,800
deficit. You know, I'll agree with that. But I don't

2389
04:37:13,800 --> 04:37:16,480
think this splitting this property into two is going to

2390
04:37:16,621 --> 04:37:24,165
affect that infrastructure deficit. And I think that, you know,

2391
04:37:24,206 --> 04:37:28,394
giving them a break on their CAC. Is, you know,

2392
04:37:28,394 --> 04:37:31,294
the right thing to do. And in one way, it

2393
04:37:31,334 --> 04:37:35,214
creates two tax contributions instead of one for the municipality.

2394
04:37:35,214 --> 04:37:38,868
Instead of having one tax payment, now the. Two. And

2395
04:37:39,049 --> 04:37:44,732
there's zero costume municipality for infrastructure on this. Um, I

2396
04:37:44,732 --> 04:37:47,772
think a lot of this comes down to empathy in

2397
04:37:47,812 --> 04:37:56,208
a lot of ways. And. Thank you. All right. I'm

2398
04:37:56,248 --> 04:37:58,128
getting the sense. We're going to pass the motion on

2399
04:37:58,128 --> 04:38:00,608
the floor, but I'm wondering if Council wants to re

2400
04:38:00,608 --> 04:38:04,128
- invite the St. Michael's and all angels, Anglican Church

2401
04:38:04,168 --> 04:38:08,478
to come back. And have us reconsider their application because

2402
04:38:08,478 --> 04:38:17,219
that was almost 14, 000 dollars reserve fund. Which is

2403
04:38:17,259 --> 04:38:20,339
a significant amount for a small church like that operating

2404
04:38:20,379 --> 04:38:28,243
on a nonprofit basis. Or you got a motion on

2405
04:38:28,243 --> 04:38:33,037
the floor then? No, Mutt's going to do emotion on

2406
04:38:33,037 --> 04:38:35,797
the floor. I just want to stress to Council the

2407
04:38:36,138 --> 04:38:43,527
inconsistency and how we're applying this policy. Councillor Caglio. Yeah,

2408
04:38:43,708 --> 04:38:48,666
I see the point you're making. The thing is, uh,

2409
04:38:51,507 --> 04:38:53,086
are you going to put emotion onto the floor right

2410
04:38:53,086 --> 04:38:54,846
now then? I'm not putting a motion on the floor

2411
04:38:54,886 --> 04:38:58,646
right now, just if I were the St. Michael's, if

2412
04:38:58,646 --> 04:39:01,466
we have the, if we have the empathy to, uh,

2413
04:39:02,067 --> 04:39:05,406
relook, or just if they're watching this meeting and they're

2414
04:39:05,446 --> 04:39:07,726
seeing that we're being leaning on this application, not on

2415
04:39:07,766 --> 04:39:10,206
the ears. I'm not sure exactly how I would respond

2416
04:39:10,227 --> 04:39:13,899
to them on that. But I can support that. All

2417
04:39:13,899 --> 04:39:17,808
right. So we've got a motion on the floor for,

2418
04:39:17,808 --> 04:39:22,328
uh, reduced, um, Community Menity Contribution. So I'm going to

2419
04:39:22,389 --> 04:39:26,155
call the question then all in favor. Oh, sorry. Councilman

2420
04:39:26,336 --> 04:39:28,795
House. Mr. Mayor, we look at these things on the

2421
04:39:28,835 --> 04:39:32,235
case by case basis, not as a whole group for

2422
04:39:32,576 --> 04:39:36,315
special circumstances like this. Um, so I'm going to be

2423
04:39:36,355 --> 04:39:42,236
voting against us. All right. Oh, are you withdrawing the?

2424
04:39:42,236 --> 04:39:45,196
Are you withdrawing the motion? Which motion? Yours? The one

2425
04:39:45,196 --> 04:39:46,876
that you move. I haven't moved. No, I haven't done

2426
04:39:46,916 --> 04:39:49,596
anything. Sorry. Mr. Mayor, I think the confusion. The mirror

2427
04:39:49,636 --> 04:39:52,876
was suggesting that it comes, the motion on the floor

2428
04:39:52,916 --> 04:39:57,063
is related to this application. Okay. We'll call the question

2429
04:39:57,244 --> 04:39:59,743
then on the motion that Councillor Man has moved. It

2430
04:39:59,743 --> 04:40:04,168
was second ed. Option two. Call the question that all

2431
04:40:04,168 --> 04:40:07,938
in favor. And oppose motion carriers with the Mayor Councillor

2432
04:40:07,938 --> 04:40:10,338
Stash and Justice opposed. We'll now move on to item

2433
04:40:11,079 --> 04:40:16,809
11. 6. Thank you, Mr. Merrill. This is a report

2434
04:40:16,910 --> 04:40:20,649
regarding the accessible parking in Chemanus. The purposes to respond

2435
04:40:20,750 --> 04:40:25,449
to Council's direction from its September 17th, 2025 regular Council

2436
04:40:25,489 --> 04:40:28,089
Meeting to review the feasibility of creating an additional accessible

2437
04:40:28,190 --> 04:40:32,800
parking spaces in Cheminus around water wheel part. The recommendation

2438
04:40:32,840 --> 04:40:36,720
is that Council direct staff to one install necessary traffic

2439
04:40:36,741 --> 04:40:40,240
signs and markings to relocate two existing accessible stalls from

2440
04:40:40,280 --> 04:40:44,400
the inside of Waterwool parking lot to outside and place

2441
04:40:44,440 --> 04:40:47,520
them adjacent to the two existing accessible stalls on water

2442
04:40:47,621 --> 04:40:51,520
will crescent in front of the museum to install necessary

2443
04:40:51,541 --> 04:40:55,760
traffic signs and markings to convert too accessible stalls inside

2444
04:40:55,781 --> 04:40:59,440
the parking lot to three regular parking spaces and three

2445
04:40:59,701 --> 04:41:02,720
convert two existing regular parking spaces in front of the

2446
04:41:03,461 --> 04:41:07,520
museum to 15 minute posture loading spaces by installing signs

2447
04:41:07,541 --> 04:41:12,133
and pavement markings. Councillor Stash. I'm going to have two

2448
04:41:12,173 --> 04:41:16,053
questions for staff and two separate staff members. One will

2449
04:41:16,093 --> 04:41:20,293
be to inform if an amendment is possible to item

2450
04:41:20,314 --> 04:41:23,493
one, which would subsequently affect number two. So my first

2451
04:41:23,754 --> 04:41:25,653
question is going to be to the engineering staff. I

2452
04:41:25,754 --> 04:41:28,293
support what they're doing and I'm fine with moving 11

2453
04:41:28,314 --> 04:41:32,613
and 2. My question to staff is on the Johnson

2454
04:41:33,034 --> 04:41:37,940
block of Willow Street. On the corner with Legion Street.

2455
04:41:38,709 --> 04:41:42,048
Why did we not consider moving space 11 to the

2456
04:41:42,069 --> 04:41:47,642
very north end of mere space six. On to Willow

2457
04:41:47,682 --> 04:41:50,202
Street, which would make sense because that would allow the

2458
04:41:50,202 --> 04:41:53,002
seniors is that's the largest demographic in Chemanus to have

2459
04:41:53,042 --> 04:41:56,602
direct access to the bank and why the original planners

2460
04:41:56,602 --> 04:41:59,802
put 11 and 12 beside the bank. So I'm referring

2461
04:41:59,802 --> 04:42:04,522
to page 387. That's page number five of the report.

2462
04:42:04,522 --> 04:42:06,282
So if you can speak to why we chose to

2463
04:42:06,322 --> 04:42:09,082
move those as far as possible to the actual services

2464
04:42:09,103 --> 04:42:13,242
that the seniors require, uh, rather than splitting them, which

2465
04:42:13,242 --> 04:42:15,322
would work and be feasible, I could, I could see

2466
04:42:15,903 --> 04:42:18,682
it having space two and three. And then number 12

2467
04:42:18,863 --> 04:42:21,882
go beside three. But the north end of the Willow

2468
04:42:21,922 --> 04:42:25,722
Street Johnson block, I would strongly urge Council to support

2469
04:42:26,143 --> 04:42:29,642
my amendment request if there isn't a strong case compelling

2470
04:42:30,143 --> 04:42:33,642
to move number 11 to that North corner there. Being

2471
04:42:33,642 --> 04:42:38,042
that directly supports the post office, the bank and the

2472
04:42:38,143 --> 04:42:42,282
pharmacy, which is highly utilised by seniors in and that

2473
04:42:42,322 --> 04:42:46,842
as we recall was the direct original concern by caregivers

2474
04:42:46,943 --> 04:42:49,882
and shamanus who transport the seniors in town that they

2475
04:42:49,922 --> 04:42:54,042
couldn't forget access. So, uh, first I'll let engineering answer

2476
04:42:54,082 --> 04:42:56,042
this question. And then my second question, I believe is

2477
04:42:56,042 --> 04:42:59,242
going to be operations as they're responsible for the painting

2478
04:42:59,423 --> 04:43:06,478
program downtown Chemanus. Mr. San. Thank you Mr. Mayor and

2479
04:43:06,478 --> 04:43:11,491
Council. If I understand correctly, the stall, uh, the question

2480
04:43:11,531 --> 04:43:15,171
was why 11 and two or 12 could be placed

2481
04:43:15,432 --> 04:43:18,371
where six is shown. Not 11 and 12 to clarify.

2482
04:43:19,182 --> 04:43:22,281
Just one of them to take one single spot at

2483
04:43:22,302 --> 04:43:25,561
the north end, which on beside it is a community

2484
04:43:26,062 --> 04:43:30,681
amenity space, which actually provides better accessibility because the parking

2485
04:43:31,662 --> 04:43:37,796
decide it because there's a bull boat there. Uh, so,

2486
04:43:37,796 --> 04:43:40,996
uh, based on the survey that we have shown in

2487
04:43:41,177 --> 04:43:45,156
figure five that we see that the highest demand for

2488
04:43:45,417 --> 04:43:50,676
accessible space is near the parking lot itself. So the

2489
04:43:50,716 --> 04:43:56,356
recommendation that we place those two stalls outside our effort

2490
04:43:56,396 --> 04:43:59,556
was to keep them closest to the, what they currently

2491
04:43:59,577 --> 04:44:04,116
are, uh, except like they're inside the lot, uh, where

2492
04:44:04,116 --> 04:44:07,876
the post office is like there are like three spaces

2493
04:44:08,937 --> 04:44:14,196
handicapped spaces there. And the survey results shown in figure

2494
04:44:14,236 --> 04:44:17,236
five of the report shows that they're not well utilised

2495
04:44:17,257 --> 04:44:21,796
as of today. So they're not always busy. They're sitting

2496
04:44:21,977 --> 04:44:24,516
empty. So if we add another space, it will not

2497
04:44:24,556 --> 04:44:28,921
be as utilised. I'll refute that. And I don't often

2498
04:44:29,022 --> 04:44:32,761
push back against staff. My business is directly right here.

2499
04:44:32,761 --> 04:44:35,241
And they also live one block away. I'm at this

2500
04:44:35,342 --> 04:44:39,241
spot probably on average one hour per day looking at

2501
04:44:39,281 --> 04:44:43,241
this spot. So I'm speaking with expensive, extensive experience here

2502
04:44:43,902 --> 04:44:47,081
that I think we're under, we're making an error moving

2503
04:44:47,081 --> 04:44:49,881
both of them away. I only point at, if you

2504
04:44:49,881 --> 04:44:52,521
look at number six, it's the highest utilised spot in

2505
04:44:52,521 --> 04:44:56,262
the entire downtown core. Directly in front of the bank,

2506
04:44:56,302 --> 04:44:59,142
directly beside the pharmacy is all I'm asking is where

2507
04:44:59,182 --> 04:45:01,062
a number 11 to be put there. So I just

2508
04:45:01,163 --> 04:45:03,462
would ask then if staff could see that that does

2509
04:45:03,563 --> 04:45:05,542
make a bit of sense. We did have a moment

2510
04:45:05,803 --> 04:45:09,302
in time survey take place. But number six is so

2511
04:45:09,403 --> 04:45:12,582
high to utilise because it's right in front of those

2512
04:45:12,603 --> 04:45:16,262
banks. Number four and five are actually private property of

2513
04:45:16,262 --> 04:45:19,382
the post office. And number seven is private property of

2514
04:45:19,422 --> 04:45:22,822
anthem properties. So, uh, those are tough ones while they

2515
04:45:22,822 --> 04:45:26,742
are as a business required to provide adequate accessible parking.

2516
04:45:26,742 --> 04:45:29,222
I just looking at what opportunities we have with North

2517
04:45:29,403 --> 04:45:31,862
Council is our own parking. And those that we have

2518
04:45:31,963 --> 04:45:37,244
control over. I'm wondering before Mr. Son answers, if we

2519
04:45:39,105 --> 04:45:41,084
Councillor said, you want to refer this back to staff

2520
04:45:41,345 --> 04:45:46,524
to investigate the, I just, I'm putting a lot there

2521
04:45:46,705 --> 04:45:49,004
is just my business has been here for 12 years

2522
04:45:49,185 --> 04:45:51,084
and I've been active as a member of the chamber

2523
04:45:51,505 --> 04:45:55,224
and an active president passed as on the BIA. And

2524
04:45:55,425 --> 04:45:56,844
I said, I live on the street and I don't

2525
04:45:56,865 --> 04:45:59,324
drive my car downtown. I walk. So I watch vehicles

2526
04:45:59,585 --> 04:46:02,924
intimately and understand where they're going. And I talk to

2527
04:46:02,964 --> 04:46:06,044
those seniors and have often help them across the road.

2528
04:46:06,044 --> 04:46:09,004
So just I understand in the 11 and 12 is

2529
04:46:09,004 --> 04:46:11,484
a problematic area because a lot of people without handicap

2530
04:46:11,585 --> 04:46:14,853
park there. So in that follow - up report then

2531
04:46:14,874 --> 04:46:16,693
mayor, if we could add to that, my follow -

2532
04:46:16,693 --> 04:46:20,053
up question was going to actually be Mr. Cater. We've

2533
04:46:20,053 --> 04:46:22,533
seen in the last four years, and I understand that's

2534
04:46:22,573 --> 04:46:26,853
because of the constraints in our budgets. Line paintings, downtown

2535
04:46:27,034 --> 04:46:32,773
Cheminus have drastically deteriorated. We're not marking the EV spots.

2536
04:46:32,773 --> 04:46:36,373
We're not marking the handicap spots. Uh, we're not maintaining

2537
04:46:36,394 --> 04:46:39,173
to the crosswalks efficiently enough. And I think that's because

2538
04:46:39,274 --> 04:46:41,253
we have a limited budget and we're doing the best

2539
04:46:41,274 --> 04:46:44,513
we can. And staff is just doing what's possible. But

2540
04:46:44,513 --> 04:46:47,173
we're not catching the no parking spots. We're not catching

2541
04:46:47,594 --> 04:46:50,213
the cycling and walkway path spots that we're all painted

2542
04:46:50,213 --> 04:46:52,933
on the roads because we don't have signage. So there's

2543
04:46:52,933 --> 04:46:55,653
a lot of handicapped spaces in Chemanus being parked in

2544
04:46:55,693 --> 04:46:59,893
by non - handicap people because all the financial constraints

2545
04:47:00,154 --> 04:47:03,253
North Couch is under. So maybe that little, uh, side

2546
04:47:03,274 --> 04:47:06,613
question can be in that because Mr. Cater might have

2547
04:47:06,613 --> 04:47:09,013
that answer to this evening. Well, the answer Mr. Meris

2548
04:47:09,053 --> 04:47:12,884
Council should increase the budget. And that's why I said

2549
04:47:12,985 --> 04:47:14,724
I'm, I'm aware of that does a fall up to

2550
04:47:14,724 --> 04:47:19,079
Mr. Seth, you want to move that refer item 11.

2551
04:47:19,100 --> 04:47:21,799
6 back to staff to consider the feedback that you

2552
04:47:21,839 --> 04:47:27,196
provided. Yes. And, um, and as well, I'm just curious,

2553
04:47:27,196 --> 04:47:29,516
did engineering staff, did they reach out to the shamanist

2554
04:47:29,516 --> 04:47:32,949
chamber and the shamanus BIA on this project. Yes. Uh,

2555
04:47:33,370 --> 04:47:37,349
Mr. Mayor, we did get a huge support from both

2556
04:47:37,450 --> 04:47:43,040
chamber and BIA. Okay. Great. But yeah, I'd just like

2557
04:47:43,040 --> 04:47:44,400
to see if we could cut into a follow -

2558
04:47:44,400 --> 04:47:46,800
up, but just, I really think I'm just curious on

2559
04:47:46,840 --> 04:47:48,960
that. Number six, cause it wasn't even put as an

2560
04:47:48,960 --> 04:47:53,760
option in the report. So just to add contextual information,

2561
04:47:53,760 --> 04:47:56,000
one early input, like at the very beginning when it

2562
04:47:56,040 --> 04:47:59,260
started the review, even before the survey was done, uh,

2563
04:47:59,861 --> 04:48:03,440
the response from RBIA was that do not put any,

2564
04:48:03,440 --> 04:48:07,040
uh, more accessible parking on willow because that's the prime

2565
04:48:07,141 --> 04:48:11,440
spot for general parking. So, uh, but, but we just,

2566
04:48:11,440 --> 04:48:13,760
uh, that wasn't the logic per se, but of course

2567
04:48:13,760 --> 04:48:16,841
we can take another look. It's the will account, so

2568
04:48:16,841 --> 04:48:20,742
the vote against me. Do you want to move to

2569
04:48:20,843 --> 04:48:23,702
refer? I would move to refer. I just, I'm not

2570
04:48:23,742 --> 04:48:26,502
convinced on moving those all that far away. All right,

2571
04:48:26,523 --> 04:48:29,442
second of by Councillor Calio, any further discussion. Call the

2572
04:48:29,442 --> 04:48:32,422
question all in favor and oppose and oppose motion carried.

2573
04:48:32,422 --> 04:48:37,535
It's been referred. Item 11. 7, Mr. Swabi. Uh, Mr.

2574
04:48:37,716 --> 04:48:41,695
Mayor, item 11. 7 is the request to approve two

2575
04:48:41,735 --> 04:48:46,255
frontline fire engines for delivery in 2028. The recommendations that

2576
04:48:46,356 --> 04:48:49,375
Council Direct staff to start the procurement process for the

2577
04:48:49,396 --> 04:48:53,055
purchase of two fire engines for deliver in 2028 and

2578
04:48:53,055 --> 04:48:56,991
authorize the CAO to sign the purchase order. Move by

2579
04:48:57,031 --> 04:49:00,751
Council Hog, seconded by Councillor Calio. Any discussion, Councillor Finley.

2580
04:49:02,646 --> 04:49:06,545
These are obviously big dollar items. And, uh, I did

2581
04:49:07,046 --> 04:49:09,805
a bunch of research on this, uh, last night, uh,

2582
04:49:10,566 --> 04:49:14,811
just who the Canadian fire underwriter survey is. And interestingly

2583
04:49:16,192 --> 04:49:19,365
enough, it's not even a government organisation. And it's a

2584
04:49:19,365 --> 04:49:22,805
privately owned organisation by a New Jersey company that happens

2585
04:49:22,845 --> 04:49:26,245
to be owned by Vanguard BlackRock, who happens to own

2586
04:49:26,266 --> 04:49:28,565
the majority of the insurance companies that aren't credit unions

2587
04:49:28,666 --> 04:49:32,565
in Canada. So they're setting the priority, the requirement for

2588
04:49:32,605 --> 04:49:36,325
insurance for all these things, for their own net benefit.

2589
04:49:37,653 --> 04:49:39,852
We're handcuffed. We can't do a lot about it. Um,

2590
04:49:40,213 --> 04:49:44,112
I understand our staff are very good at looking into,

2591
04:49:44,112 --> 04:49:47,632
um, extending the life as we can with used and

2592
04:49:47,653 --> 04:49:51,152
refitted fire engines. And I'm sure, uh, the chief has

2593
04:49:51,152 --> 04:49:53,152
done that, but, uh, I just find it quite interesting.

2594
04:49:54,265 --> 04:49:57,684
That we are absolutely handcuffed by a private organisation, private

2595
04:49:57,684 --> 04:50:03,461
American organisation that controls the insurance industry in Canada. And

2596
04:50:03,482 --> 04:50:06,981
I find that really, really frustrating. Um, so at the

2597
04:50:06,981 --> 04:50:09,381
end of the day, it's something that we, we require

2598
04:50:09,482 --> 04:50:12,822
because our residents require it for insurance purposes. To ensure

2599
04:50:13,003 --> 04:50:15,622
those companies that are on by Vanguard and Black Rocket

2600
04:50:15,643 --> 04:50:20,073
paid. So frankly, I'm kind of pissed off that we're

2601
04:50:20,113 --> 04:50:23,073
handcuffed by this group that's not even government driven, a

2602
04:50:23,073 --> 04:50:26,073
government owned. So I'll leave it at that. I, we

2603
04:50:26,113 --> 04:50:28,313
need it, but I'm not in favor of the cost,

2604
04:50:28,313 --> 04:50:32,386
but we're absolutely handcuffed by this. And it's, it's pissing

2605
04:50:32,487 --> 04:50:38,440
me off. So excuse my French. Councillor Stash. I don't

2606
04:50:38,440 --> 04:50:41,733
know if it's. The friendly thing to say to the

2607
04:50:41,733 --> 04:50:44,045
rest of Council, but I told you so. This is

2608
04:50:44,045 --> 04:50:46,665
the, but this year was the fourth budget in the

2609
04:50:46,665 --> 04:50:50,125
Road that I pushed for the reserve increase every year.

2610
04:50:50,146 --> 04:50:53,805
I was voted against. But thankfully this year, Council did

2611
04:50:54,626 --> 04:51:01,565
support listening that our reserves were insufficient. And as this

2612
04:51:01,565 --> 04:51:04,285
said, uh, we knew that we had a little bit.

2613
04:51:04,285 --> 04:51:06,605
The big increase this year was barely going to help

2614
04:51:06,605 --> 04:51:08,485
us pay for the new trucks. And at least we

2615
04:51:08,485 --> 04:51:10,125
are going to pay for them. But then we're put

2616
04:51:10,165 --> 04:51:13,165
in a deficit again. So I'm in full support of

2617
04:51:13,165 --> 04:51:16,045
the staff recommendation to do this and hope that the

2618
04:51:16,226 --> 04:51:19,005
next year's, well, actually it's this year's, but the next

2619
04:51:19,186 --> 04:51:24,765
Council's budget deliberations understands the very, very serious implications of

2620
04:51:25,026 --> 04:51:30,359
underfunding, uh, fire apparatus reserves. All right. Can I call

2621
04:51:30,359 --> 04:51:33,159
the question all in favor and oppose? Not a pose

2622
04:51:33,260 --> 04:51:35,639
motion carries. We'll now move on to 11 point item

2623
04:51:35,679 --> 04:51:39,054
11. 8 Mr. Swaby. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The last

2624
04:51:39,054 --> 04:51:42,014
item, uh, on the regular agenda is 11. 8, which

2625
04:51:42,014 --> 04:51:45,894
is the Memorial Bench and tree policy review. The purpose

2626
04:51:45,915 --> 04:51:48,534
is to provide Council with a review of the Memorial

2627
04:51:48,555 --> 04:51:51,894
Bench and tree policy and seek direction regarding the tribute

2628
04:51:51,934 --> 04:51:56,934
program administration. The recommendation from staff is that Council direct

2629
04:51:57,035 --> 04:51:59,814
that Council Direct staff to one amend the fees and

2630
04:51:59,814 --> 04:52:03,254
charges Byla to reflect the proposed fees outlined in table

2631
04:52:03,515 --> 04:52:08,487
two, tribute program pricing review, full cost recovery. Two increased

2632
04:52:08,487 --> 04:52:14,007
the applicable fees annually by three percent for a period

2633
04:52:14,047 --> 04:52:17,847
of five years. And three continues to provide eligible pre

2634
04:52:18,268 --> 04:52:21,767
2009 tribute program participants with a one time 10 year

2635
04:52:21,807 --> 04:52:26,387
transition period, beginning from the date they were contacted. And

2636
04:52:26,428 --> 04:52:31,447
informed the current policy requirements policy. Some like move the

2637
04:52:31,447 --> 04:52:34,787
recommendation. The Council of Justice, second by Councillor Callio, any

2638
04:52:34,787 --> 04:52:37,869
discussion. We called the question all in favor. An opposed

2639
04:52:37,890 --> 04:52:39,789
and opposed motion carries. And then we move on to

2640
04:52:39,829 --> 04:52:43,389
new business. We have two items. I'll start with item,

2641
04:52:43,389 --> 04:52:46,349
sorry, 12. 1. I'll turn it over to Councillor Stash.

2642
04:52:51,340 --> 04:52:54,719
Thanks, Mayor. Um, yeah, it's on the table now. I

2643
04:52:54,719 --> 04:52:57,879
said, uh, pretty clear I tried to make it as

2644
04:52:57,919 --> 04:53:01,699
simple and explicit as possible for the, uh, motion, uh,

2645
04:53:02,380 --> 04:53:04,759
the reason being that, you know, the table, but just

2646
04:53:04,780 --> 04:53:09,559
trying to see, um, it's a wrapply evolving space and

2647
04:53:09,599 --> 04:53:11,959
being that we've got some land uses that might change

2648
04:53:12,380 --> 04:53:15,799
or large properties becoming available. And as well, learning the

2649
04:53:15,799 --> 04:53:20,199
best practices of being ahead of things before they're on

2650
04:53:20,199 --> 04:53:23,559
the table or is important and definitely seeing what an

2651
04:53:23,559 --> 04:53:25,399
enamel has been grappling with while that was only a

2652
04:53:25,420 --> 04:53:29,559
data centre and isn't as resource demanding. Um, and then

2653
04:53:29,580 --> 04:53:34,679
as well, the speculative, uh, investment economy happening around data

2654
04:53:34,700 --> 04:53:39,859
centres. And opportunities to buy up large industrial spaces, uh,

2655
04:53:39,859 --> 04:53:42,659
for repurposing. So there's lots of things in there, but

2656
04:53:42,659 --> 04:53:48,119
this is just a proactive, um, the word, I was

2657
04:53:48,119 --> 04:53:51,319
thinking of like a moratorium initially, but then speaking with

2658
04:53:51,340 --> 04:53:53,879
staff, they were really wise in support of them saying

2659
04:53:54,380 --> 04:53:56,839
that if we change the zoning, then staff would have

2660
04:53:56,879 --> 04:53:59,319
to come through for the public would have to come

2661
04:53:59,319 --> 04:54:03,079
through for a zoning amendment, uh, to make this happen.

2662
04:54:03,180 --> 04:54:05,479
And then at least that, in that case would trigger

2663
04:54:05,740 --> 04:54:09,799
public hearing. But mostly what I wanted is, um, that

2664
04:54:10,940 --> 04:54:13,559
if something were to happen, the public has their say.

2665
04:54:13,559 --> 04:54:15,479
That's the root of all of this is that we

2666
04:54:15,500 --> 04:54:19,639
have our upcoming comprehensive zoning bylaw review. We're a topic

2667
04:54:19,679 --> 04:54:23,399
like this and new industrial land uses would be informed

2668
04:54:24,940 --> 04:54:28,039
and regulations and stipulations would be discussed to in that.

2669
04:54:28,039 --> 04:54:30,039
And then as well, we have a five year OCP

2670
04:54:30,060 --> 04:54:34,119
review coming up, uh, when that process started six years

2671
04:54:34,159 --> 04:54:37,879
ago, um, over, well, almost eight years ago when he

2672
04:54:37,879 --> 04:54:40,999
got into the initial planning of the major comprehensive OCP

2673
04:54:41,039 --> 04:54:43,559
review, uh, this wouldn't be something that would have been

2674
04:54:43,559 --> 04:54:45,319
thought of. So that's of course why it's good to

2675
04:54:45,319 --> 04:54:48,759
have reviews, but those opportunities for public input, uh, what

2676
04:54:48,860 --> 04:54:51,719
Nanaimo saw was that there was no explicit language that

2677
04:54:52,300 --> 04:54:55,639
would trigger public hearings or public input on that use

2678
04:54:55,900 --> 04:54:58,599
because it's been allowed use. And then the way the

2679
04:54:58,639 --> 04:55:01,079
local government Act and the Community Charter is, is if

2680
04:55:01,119 --> 04:55:04,359
we're zoned, we have to provide service and provide the

2681
04:55:04,399 --> 04:55:07,159
opportunity to then follow through that. And of course we,

2682
04:55:07,159 --> 04:55:09,479
I do understand we have our policy in regards to

2683
04:55:09,740 --> 04:55:13,239
infrastructure capacities, but just looking at the lay of the

2684
04:55:13,260 --> 04:55:17,879
land here, I felt being proactive and, uh, having Council

2685
04:55:17,919 --> 04:55:19,879
put something in place that would at least mostly at

2686
04:55:19,879 --> 04:55:22,119
the root of this is just trigger a public hearing

2687
04:55:22,300 --> 04:55:25,719
if something does come forward. Cause I think the residents

2688
04:55:25,719 --> 04:55:27,119
deserve to have a say and what they want to

2689
04:55:27,119 --> 04:55:32,119
see for business and most notably on, uh, when we

2690
04:55:32,119 --> 04:55:34,999
look at value add. We want to provide good paying

2691
04:55:34,999 --> 04:55:39,239
jobs as many jobs as possible. And also, uh, industry

2692
04:55:39,279 --> 04:55:43,638
that utilises other businesses in the valley. A large data

2693
04:55:43,659 --> 04:55:46,038
centre that Nanae was getting absolutely going to generate lots

2694
04:55:46,078 --> 04:55:49,958
of, uh, revenue for, uh, construction. But then once that's

2695
04:55:49,998 --> 04:55:54,198
gone, uh, it's hard to argue that the taxation revenue

2696
04:55:54,379 --> 04:55:59,458
is enough to sustain resources and the environment. So, um,

2697
04:55:59,659 --> 04:56:01,078
I'm just putting it to Council. And I thought this

2698
04:56:01,078 --> 04:56:04,358
was a good, uh, very timely subject matter to discuss

2699
04:56:04,379 --> 04:56:07,497
at the table. And so here is the author. Do

2700
04:56:07,497 --> 04:56:10,885
you want to, uh, move the motion. I would do

2701
04:56:10,885 --> 04:56:14,165
so. Thank you. Is there a second by Councillor Justice?

2702
04:56:14,165 --> 04:56:18,005
I've got Councillor Hog then Councillor Justice. Then Councillor Finley.

2703
04:56:20,021 --> 04:56:22,240
Thank you, Mayor. And thank you for bringing us to

2704
04:56:22,280 --> 04:56:25,040
the attention. I think it is really important. Um, the

2705
04:56:25,141 --> 04:56:28,480
word prohibit does worry me a little bit. We try

2706
04:56:28,480 --> 04:56:31,200
to push industry here. Um, I did a little research

2707
04:56:31,381 --> 04:56:35,360
myself last night. And, uh, Microsoft since 2024 has been

2708
04:56:35,400 --> 04:56:39,920
using a closed loop. Non evaporative cooling system. And they've

2709
04:56:39,920 --> 04:56:43,760
also started piloting more projects. There's some air cooled ones.

2710
04:56:43,760 --> 04:56:47,600
Uh, they use non - potable water and reuses the

2711
04:56:47,600 --> 04:56:51,851
water over and over. So I agree with you. I

2712
04:56:51,851 --> 04:56:53,571
don't want it to be hard on infrastructure, but using

2713
04:56:53,611 --> 04:57:01,199
the word prohibit. No one will even look to come

2714
04:57:01,199 --> 04:57:04,639
here. Um, not saying we want that either, but I

2715
04:57:04,639 --> 04:57:08,479
just, I worry about that part. Um, whether it's a

2716
04:57:08,500 --> 04:57:10,399
data centre or not, does it put other industries off

2717
04:57:10,420 --> 04:57:13,599
because we don't, you know, we do prohibit certain things.

2718
04:57:16,379 --> 04:57:21,611
Rosemother notes. So I'm wondering if the interest is not

2719
04:57:21,611 --> 04:57:25,051
completely banning, but would have to use a cooling technology

2720
04:57:25,392 --> 04:57:32,683
that do not, um, consume potable water. I'm going to

2721
04:57:32,683 --> 04:57:39,130
do it wrong. Oh, sorry. And I was also wondering

2722
04:57:39,311 --> 04:57:41,770
about, um, there is an initial field when you use

2723
04:57:41,770 --> 04:57:45,530
one of those cooling loop systems. And if it could

2724
04:57:45,570 --> 04:57:49,046
be non - potable water, for example, being wastewater. Those

2725
04:57:49,147 --> 04:57:53,341
are just my tidbits. Thank you. Before I turn it

2726
04:57:53,381 --> 04:57:56,941
over to, uh, Councillor Justice, I would note, um, Councillor

2727
04:57:56,981 --> 04:58:00,541
Hoog, you're concerned about prohibiting. So if you go back,

2728
04:58:00,541 --> 04:58:03,181
uh, a number of years ago, we were concerned around

2729
04:58:03,202 --> 04:58:07,341
this table of these, uh, industrial, like concrete bunker style

2730
04:58:07,362 --> 04:58:11,101
cannabis facilities that were, we were seeing constructed on ALR

2731
04:58:11,141 --> 04:58:14,361
properties for the lower mainland. So we did was, um,

2732
04:58:14,562 --> 04:58:17,341
I brought Ford a motion to prohibit them in North

2733
04:58:17,522 --> 04:58:20,761
Couch and we adopted that in fall of 2020. But

2734
04:58:20,761 --> 04:58:23,421
basically, um, under our zoning right now, you can't build

2735
04:58:23,442 --> 04:58:28,381
one of these large industrial cannabis facilities on farmland unless

2736
04:58:28,421 --> 04:58:31,901
you apply to Council and get permission, which triggers the

2737
04:58:32,002 --> 04:58:34,701
public hearing. So even earlier this year, we did have

2738
04:58:34,741 --> 04:58:37,261
one out in the Salem area where the, uh, the

2739
04:58:37,282 --> 04:58:39,501
applicants went through that whole process and had to present

2740
04:58:39,602 --> 04:58:41,161
to us and we had to decide if it was

2741
04:58:41,161 --> 04:58:44,701
appropriate or not. And I believe that's Councillor stash's intention

2742
04:58:44,701 --> 04:58:47,581
here that it doesn't mean no one can submit an

2743
04:58:47,682 --> 04:58:49,741
application, but if they do that it's going to have

2744
04:58:49,741 --> 04:58:54,694
to go through Council for approval. Yeah. All right. Councillor

2745
04:58:54,875 --> 04:58:57,985
Justice and Councillor Finley. I'll say, actually, you know what,

2746
04:58:57,985 --> 04:59:01,745
before you start, as Councilman Us noted, we're needing extension

2747
04:59:01,745 --> 04:59:03,125
in our meeting time here. So I'm going to ask

2748
04:59:03,125 --> 04:59:06,465
from Ocean to extend to 830. Move by Councillor Manhouse.

2749
04:59:06,465 --> 04:59:09,786
Second by Council Calle. All in favor. Of pose and

2750
04:59:09,786 --> 04:59:12,346
oppose motion carry. So over you, Council of Justice. Thank

2751
04:59:12,346 --> 04:59:15,946
you. I'll start by saying thanks to Councillor Stash for

2752
04:59:16,207 --> 04:59:19,866
showing the leadership of bringing this motion forward. I will

2753
04:59:19,887 --> 04:59:23,946
be voting in favor of it. We have as Councillor

2754
04:59:24,127 --> 04:59:29,146
Stadd. We've heard concerns from residents, particularly about water and

2755
04:59:29,186 --> 04:59:32,586
electricity use. And I think that those concerns need to

2756
04:59:32,586 --> 04:59:36,506
be taken very seriously. Also North Couch and does have

2757
04:59:37,567 --> 04:59:40,886
a finite resources and finite amount of industrial land. And

2758
04:59:40,886 --> 04:59:44,106
we need to be very thoughtful about how we allocate

2759
04:59:44,146 --> 04:59:48,186
those resources and what kind of economic activity. We want

2760
04:59:48,186 --> 04:59:53,786
to encourage and our industrial lens can support manufacturing. They

2761
04:59:53,786 --> 04:59:57,866
can support value added wood manufacturing. They can support food

2762
04:59:58,047 --> 05:00:03,066
production. There's a lot of possibilities for other businesses that

2763
05:00:03,167 --> 05:00:08,386
provide employment and contribute to a diversified local economy. So

2764
05:00:08,386 --> 05:00:12,106
for me, the question is whether data centres are in

2765
05:00:12,106 --> 05:00:16,586
appropriate use of North Collection's limited land and infrastructure resources.

2766
05:00:18,048 --> 05:00:24,267
Um, and whether allowing them could compromise other community priorities.

2767
05:00:24,267 --> 05:00:27,467
And in my opinion scarce industrial land, water and electricity

2768
05:00:27,648 --> 05:00:32,267
are much better used for employment intensive and value added

2769
05:00:32,288 --> 05:00:40,004
industries. Um, I also see. This marriage spoke to this

2770
05:00:40,044 --> 05:00:42,004
a little bit, but I see this motion is establishing

2771
05:00:42,105 --> 05:00:47,197
direction. Rather than making a final decision. Staff will need

2772
05:00:47,237 --> 05:00:53,028
to come back. To Council with details. Implications, public input

2773
05:00:53,609 --> 05:01:03,573
for whatever means of prohibitation. It's getting late provision. Provision.

2774
05:01:04,328 --> 05:01:08,323
Yeah. Is adopted. So I think it's reasonable for Council

2775
05:01:08,323 --> 05:01:13,530
to take this precautionary approach. And direct staff to pursue

2776
05:01:13,871 --> 05:01:20,318
this prohibition. Again, thanks Councillor Stash. Councillor Finnley, over to

2777
05:01:20,318 --> 05:01:26,228
you. Well, I must say I'm a hundred percent agreement

2778
05:01:26,228 --> 05:01:30,446
with this. And the reason is that I don't want

2779
05:01:30,547 --> 05:01:36,686
the robots taken over North Couch taking over. I mean,

2780
05:01:36,867 --> 05:01:40,286
data centres need to be defined. I mean, the server

2781
05:01:40,326 --> 05:01:43,246
farms, I had a server in, I don't even know

2782
05:01:43,246 --> 05:01:46,366
where it was for my websites that I paid for.

2783
05:01:46,366 --> 05:01:48,606
And the other versions of data centres and AI data

2784
05:01:48,787 --> 05:01:50,526
centres. And I think we're all freaked out mostly about

2785
05:01:50,627 --> 05:01:53,246
these big AI data centres that I use in massive

2786
05:01:53,286 --> 05:01:56,046
amounts of water. I did the same research at Councillor

2787
05:01:56,086 --> 05:01:58,126
Hogg did about three nights ago about how to cool

2788
05:01:58,126 --> 05:02:00,170
these things. And there are great ways to do it.

2789
05:02:01,230 --> 05:02:05,289
But again, is it worth the, say, a five acre

2790
05:02:05,289 --> 05:02:07,129
chunk bot in our industrial park? And yeah, we get

2791
05:02:07,129 --> 05:02:10,089
a bunch of construction jobs to build it. And then

2792
05:02:10,110 --> 05:02:13,109
there's two just custodians that are cleaning it. And that's

2793
05:02:13,109 --> 05:02:15,961
it. So property taxes might be nice, but at the

2794
05:02:15,961 --> 05:02:18,201
end of the day, I don't want the robots taken

2795
05:02:18,241 --> 05:02:19,961
over. So I'm a hundred percent in favor of this

2796
05:02:19,982 --> 05:02:25,014
one. All right, any further discussion. Albeit voting in favor

2797
05:02:25,035 --> 05:02:27,974
of this as well. Since he brought this motion forward,

2798
05:02:27,974 --> 05:02:30,934
Councillor Stash, we've heard concerns from people in the municipality

2799
05:02:31,275 --> 05:02:35,734
throughout the Cowgetan region about the water usage, energy usage

2800
05:02:35,835 --> 05:02:38,454
footprint of some of these facilities. And if you look

2801
05:02:38,494 --> 05:02:41,334
at the polling right across Canada, this is the common

2802
05:02:41,355 --> 05:02:43,814
trend right now. And as was noted earlier, by passing

2803
05:02:43,995 --> 05:02:48,614
this motion, it doesn't actually prohibit anyone from smitting an

2804
05:02:48,654 --> 05:02:50,694
application. It does require them to go through a proper

2805
05:02:50,715 --> 05:02:54,294
application process and a public hearing where residents can weigh

2806
05:02:54,294 --> 05:02:57,254
in on whether they think that kind of development is

2807
05:02:57,355 --> 05:03:01,398
appropriate and our municipality. So we'll be sporting it. Can

2808
05:03:01,438 --> 05:03:04,813
I call the question then? All in favor. In opposed,

2809
05:03:04,813 --> 05:03:07,453
not opposed motion carries. The other item for new business

2810
05:03:07,474 --> 05:03:10,653
that I pulled from the agenda was a letter from

2811
05:03:10,914 --> 05:03:14,948
the Salminos Marsh Wildlife Society. So they have asked for

2812
05:03:15,129 --> 05:03:20,308
additional funding of 26, 400 dollars to cover their cost

2813
05:03:20,348 --> 05:03:24,988
this year with regards to restoring the Somino's watershed. So

2814
05:03:24,988 --> 05:03:26,788
I will turn a staff on this. If anyone wants

2815
05:03:26,809 --> 05:03:29,188
to comment at this time or if we could refer

2816
05:03:29,529 --> 05:03:31,428
this item back to staff to look into it and

2817
05:03:31,468 --> 05:03:36,406
report back to Council to Future Meeting. Yeah. Can I

2818
05:03:36,406 --> 05:03:39,766
get a referral motion then? Preferred by Councillor Family Second

2819
05:03:39,766 --> 05:03:43,133
Am I Councillor Calio. Any discussion. All in favor. And

2820
05:03:43,133 --> 05:03:46,649
a pose and a pose motion carries. And then Councillor

2821
05:03:46,910 --> 05:03:48,549
Calio, I believe you have a notice of motion, but

2822
05:03:48,549 --> 05:03:56,042
that would be for debate at a future meeting. Am

2823
05:03:56,042 --> 05:03:58,602
I being optimistic? Yeah. For you or someone to debate

2824
05:03:58,602 --> 05:04:01,082
it a future. Well, that's just it. Yeah. Isn't it?

2825
05:04:01,082 --> 05:04:05,123
Thanks. All right, we'll now move on to question period.

2826
05:04:05,123 --> 05:04:07,283
Are there any members of the public? We have a

2827
05:04:07,283 --> 05:04:08,003
question for Council.

2828
05:04:17,304 --> 05:04:20,003
Thank you Mayor and Council. My name is Joyce Benson.

2829
05:04:20,003 --> 05:04:21,683
As you already know, drink water road. My question is

2830
05:04:21,784 --> 05:04:27,763
regarding the asset management plan. And my question would be,

2831
05:04:27,763 --> 05:04:30,643
is will there hopefully be included in that asset management

2832
05:04:30,824 --> 05:04:36,077
plan a sincere. Effort to clean up the creeks and

2833
05:04:36,077 --> 05:04:38,957
streams that have been neglected for decades and are grown

2834
05:04:39,138 --> 05:04:42,957
over? I can drive around community areas and see them

2835
05:04:44,098 --> 05:04:46,637
fair field over at Penns and Corners. I think it's

2836
05:04:46,677 --> 05:04:50,317
called Butcher Creek. Different places. They've been totally neglected for

2837
05:04:50,338 --> 05:04:53,277
decades. And I do believe that's why the Ximenous River

2838
05:04:53,277 --> 05:04:55,677
ended up flooding because it had been neglected for keeping

2839
05:04:55,938 --> 05:05:00,397
it clean and bonsai cleaned and cared for. I don't

2840
05:05:00,437 --> 05:05:04,957
even understand how badly they've been grown over with Blackberries.

2841
05:05:04,957 --> 05:05:07,597
They're not even Creeks and streams anymore. That's my question.

2842
05:05:07,637 --> 05:05:09,277
I don't know if it gets an answer, but I

2843
05:05:09,298 --> 05:05:12,874
certainly hope it's on the list. Great, thanks, Ms. Bens,

2844
05:05:12,874 --> 05:05:15,434
for the questions. So we are doing some of the

2845
05:05:15,434 --> 05:05:17,674
work right now through our service agreement with the Salmon

2846
05:05:17,714 --> 05:05:20,714
of Smarsh Wildlife Society. They're doing great work to restore

2847
05:05:21,615 --> 05:05:25,494
Bing's Creek and Insomnials Creek and in other areas. And

2848
05:05:25,494 --> 05:05:28,394
the Salman's watershed. Ultimately for some of the other water

2849
05:05:28,575 --> 05:05:30,794
courses throughout the municipality, it's going to depend on what

2850
05:05:31,055 --> 05:05:34,954
the future council decides to do with that prioritization plan.

2851
05:05:34,954 --> 05:05:37,514
So that will be going first to the Environmental Advisory

2852
05:05:37,535 --> 05:05:40,634
Committee and then coming back to the future Council decide

2853
05:05:40,634 --> 05:05:43,274
how they want to proceed with it. And obviously if

2854
05:05:43,314 --> 05:05:45,994
they decided dedicate more resources to implementing it, we're going

2855
05:05:45,994 --> 05:05:48,314
to be able to cover a large area of the

2856
05:05:48,415 --> 05:05:51,434
municipality and more of these water courses that have been

2857
05:05:51,855 --> 05:05:54,474
neglected over the years. A Z highlighted. Thank you. Even

2858
05:05:54,495 --> 05:05:57,034
to the fish being gone that the kids used to

2859
05:05:57,055 --> 05:05:59,994
love to watch. So in neighbourhoods, thank you very much.

2860
05:06:00,015 --> 05:06:08,795
Thank you. And the other questions for Council. Don Allegam8567,

2861
05:06:08,795 --> 05:06:14,555
she made us road. Shimani. Your amendment, your natural Access

2862
05:06:14,576 --> 05:06:17,755
Management Plan. I use the word plan loosely, I think.

2863
05:06:19,391 --> 05:06:22,170
Shimaina's River. I've lived there for six years. You've all

2864
05:06:22,170 --> 05:06:26,201
been there. Why is it flood? I ask you. Maybe

2865
05:06:26,222 --> 05:06:29,358
the challenge full of sediment. The water can't get out.

2866
05:06:31,733 --> 05:06:34,186
Do you think. I got a question even for these

2867
05:06:34,287 --> 05:06:38,026
gentlemen here that are on the Cowitchen, North College in

2868
05:06:38,066 --> 05:06:42,826
payroll. Next time when it floods. The questions are for

2869
05:06:42,826 --> 05:06:45,146
the mayor's. You got to you got to. Sorry, Mayor.

2870
05:06:45,487 --> 05:06:50,550
Yeah. I hope everybody's listening. Next time it floods. Next

2871
05:06:50,590 --> 05:06:53,670
winter, the winner after. When my neighbours lose their houses,

2872
05:06:53,670 --> 05:06:57,324
their basements. All they're valuables. The family pitchers. Family heirlooms.

2873
05:06:58,909 --> 05:07:02,750
What am I supposed to tell them. North Cowlicks done.

2874
05:07:04,662 --> 05:07:09,732
Thank you. Any questions. No, I think it's questions for

2875
05:07:09,772 --> 05:07:13,012
me as mayor on behalf of Council. But in terms

2876
05:07:13,012 --> 05:07:15,332
of our role, I mean, we have been advocating at

2877
05:07:15,332 --> 05:07:19,652
the province for this. We were successful working with yourself

2878
05:07:20,553 --> 05:07:23,092
and residents and the whole nation and getting that initial

2879
05:07:23,193 --> 05:07:26,112
bit of funding there that helped address some of the

2880
05:07:26,112 --> 05:07:29,092
damage caused by the atmospheric river event. But ultimately we

2881
05:07:29,132 --> 05:07:31,812
do need ongoing support from the province. As you and

2882
05:07:31,812 --> 05:07:35,812
I have discussed that that should include a regular program

2883
05:07:35,852 --> 05:07:38,772
for regular gravel removal, which, um, people like you have

2884
05:07:38,812 --> 05:07:41,472
lived in the area for decades have pointed out. And

2885
05:07:41,472 --> 05:07:44,536
you've seen how that can have a positive effect. If

2886
05:07:44,557 --> 05:07:47,581
I may. It's just not here their pick spots on

2887
05:07:47,581 --> 05:07:49,941
the Shimeas River. It's the whole river needs to be

2888
05:07:49,941 --> 05:07:54,236
addressed. The whole river. Top to bottom. If you start

2889
05:07:54,276 --> 05:07:57,196
picking away, it's like picking away at a boo -

2890
05:07:57,196 --> 05:08:01,748
boo. It's never going to get better. Okay. Thank you.

2891
05:08:02,009 --> 05:08:05,947
Thanks guys. Anyone else with a question for Council. Yeah,

2892
05:08:06,128 --> 05:08:15,886
Mr. Wrestling. Thanks for

2893
05:08:15,886 --> 05:08:20,386
worship. Uh, and these will be questions. Uh, the asset,

2894
05:08:20,386 --> 05:08:24,946
the natural asset, uh, study, um, I agree with Council

2895
05:08:24,967 --> 05:08:29,266
Hartash. This is a great idea for, uh, building blocks

2896
05:08:29,767 --> 05:08:38,226
on the Environmental and Smart growth, uh, assets of our

2897
05:08:38,247 --> 05:08:42,755
OCP. Um, and so I'm thinking these would be yes

2898
05:08:42,755 --> 05:08:46,195
or no. I'm assuming that this plan would also sweep

2899
05:08:46,296 --> 05:08:50,755
into how to clean up Kwamachin Lake, the Sominose Lake,

2900
05:08:50,755 --> 05:08:53,595
which is full of giant bullfrogs and parrot feather, as

2901
05:08:53,595 --> 05:08:57,535
you well know. Um, and the craft of millsite, uh,

2902
05:08:58,056 --> 05:09:01,063
I'm thinking about all the land around that. Uh, where

2903
05:09:01,063 --> 05:09:05,063
there's been toxic, uh, flyash buried for years. Swoll field

2904
05:09:05,084 --> 05:09:09,086
farm. Um, and even on the, we still don't know

2905
05:09:09,126 --> 05:09:12,864
what's toxic on the Croft and millsite itself. Um, and

2906
05:09:13,125 --> 05:09:16,704
as well, Couch and Bay, the, of course, the North

2907
05:09:16,744 --> 05:09:21,811
Cowlican side of the bay. Uh, where we are thinking

2908
05:09:21,832 --> 05:09:25,891
of, uh, spending about 130 million dollars if I still

2909
05:09:25,891 --> 05:09:31,091
have that right muster eatsma to move our at fall.

2910
05:09:31,091 --> 05:09:33,891
Joint utilities board outfall over to there to the mouth

2911
05:09:33,931 --> 05:09:38,276
of the bay. What all those, those four or five,

2912
05:09:38,276 --> 05:09:40,436
are they part of this? Or will they be or

2913
05:09:40,476 --> 05:09:43,156
could they be? All right. We're at time right now,

2914
05:09:43,156 --> 05:09:45,876
uh, Mr. Raussen. But out of those four, um, so

2915
05:09:45,916 --> 05:09:47,796
one thing to keep in mind with that natural asset

2916
05:09:47,836 --> 05:09:50,836
management strategy is it highlights that we're not starting from

2917
05:09:50,937 --> 05:09:53,396
scratch. We're already doing a lot of that work here

2918
05:09:53,417 --> 05:09:56,516
in North Council. And the idea is that, um, with

2919
05:09:56,556 --> 05:10:00,676
that resource, we can, um, really ingrain it in the

2920
05:10:00,716 --> 05:10:04,356
organisation and ensure that staff are properly trained on how

2921
05:10:04,396 --> 05:10:07,376
to incorporate those principles and other work they're doing. But

2922
05:10:07,376 --> 05:10:09,396
again, we are doing a lot of that work already.

2923
05:10:09,396 --> 05:10:12,596
And one example of it is, uh, with the Kwaminchen

2924
05:10:12,636 --> 05:10:15,556
watershed and then also with the Sominose watershed where we

2925
05:10:15,556 --> 05:10:18,756
do have the service agreement in place with the Somino's

2926
05:10:18,756 --> 05:10:21,156
Marsh Wildlife Society. And throughout the year, I mean, they

2927
05:10:21,196 --> 05:10:26,596
removed parrot's feather from Salmo's Creek. They're restoring riparian areas

2928
05:10:26,857 --> 05:10:30,116
and doing regular water quality testing. Um, the other one

2929
05:10:30,217 --> 05:10:33,036
with the sewage outfall. Yeah. The cost now, I think

2930
05:10:33,036 --> 05:10:35,636
it's gone from 27 million to 97 million, which is

2931
05:10:35,636 --> 05:10:38,736
well beyond what we can afford as a municipality. Um,

2932
05:10:38,736 --> 05:10:40,436
even though we would be co - funding it with

2933
05:10:40,436 --> 05:10:44,196
other local governments, ultimately it's going to depend on whether

2934
05:10:44,297 --> 05:10:48,836
the federal and provincial governments want to contribute, uh, two

2935
05:10:48,876 --> 05:10:50,916
thirds of the cost of that project. And we've had

2936
05:10:51,497 --> 05:10:53,516
no indication from them to date that they're going to

2937
05:10:54,217 --> 05:10:56,903
step out for that. And sorry, it was quickly the

2938
05:10:56,943 --> 05:11:02,990
fourth. Oh, uh, cropped a mill. Yeah. Yeah. Like if

2939
05:11:03,011 --> 05:11:05,150
we, if we were to get to get into remediation

2940
05:11:05,331 --> 05:11:06,910
for a site like that, if you look at Port

2941
05:11:06,950 --> 05:11:09,550
Alice, I mean, the hundreds and millions of dollars have

2942
05:11:09,590 --> 05:11:11,310
been spent on that. So it's well beyond what we

2943
05:11:11,331 --> 05:11:15,150
could afford as a municipality. And, um, I mean, a

2944
05:11:15,150 --> 05:11:16,830
lot of that's going to depend on what the owner

2945
05:11:16,870 --> 05:11:19,470
does and what the future uses of the site. Oh,

2946
05:11:19,470 --> 05:11:22,910
maybe I'm talking pay for it. Um, the, uh, well,

2947
05:11:22,910 --> 05:11:25,710
thank your worship. It's been quite an environmentally friendly night

2948
05:11:25,731 --> 05:11:29,466
tonight. Uh, and, uh, keep it up by. Thank you

2949
05:11:29,466 --> 05:11:33,566
for, for passing the, uh, data centre one. It's great.

2950
05:11:33,566 --> 05:11:41,216
Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions for Council. Good

2951
05:11:41,216 --> 05:11:44,860
evening, your worship and Council. I'm curious, uh, given the

2952
05:11:45,601 --> 05:11:49,402
West Hill, I believe decision. If I decide to subdivate

2953
05:11:49,503 --> 05:11:53,082
my property for my kids to have a lot that's

2954
05:11:53,103 --> 05:11:57,482
worth 300, are you going to not charge me any

2955
05:11:57,503 --> 05:12:01,882
of the development costs as well so that they can

2956
05:12:02,223 --> 05:12:07,871
get property and make a big bonus on it. I

2957
05:12:07,871 --> 05:12:10,191
think it's all to move in to the next Council

2958
05:12:10,292 --> 05:12:13,071
of the side, how they want to approach the Community

2959
05:12:13,252 --> 05:12:16,671
Menity Contributions Policy and how it's applied. Which allow me

2960
05:12:16,772 --> 05:12:19,471
one more? Yeah, I think you said at times. What

2961
05:12:19,471 --> 05:12:21,151
I really just want to thank you all for the

2962
05:12:21,191 --> 05:12:25,311
support tonight for the data centre. I heard how you

2963
05:12:25,351 --> 05:12:27,931
voted. I couldn't hear it while I was driving. But

2964
05:12:27,931 --> 05:12:32,351
also for the support for the natural asset management plan.

2965
05:12:32,351 --> 05:12:41,419
And I particularly want to thank Mayor Douglas. Councillor. Justice.

2966
05:12:41,419 --> 05:12:44,359
I was going to call you by your nickname. And

2967
05:12:44,540 --> 05:12:52,519
Councillor Istash. Well, that's ripe coming from you for your

2968
05:12:52,540 --> 05:12:55,319
service for the Environment. And all of you for your

2969
05:12:55,420 --> 05:12:58,679
service in general. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Any other

2970
05:12:58,679 --> 05:13:08,679
questions for Council. Derek Maslink, 2816 Crowsy Road. Just

2971
05:13:08,679 --> 05:13:14,103
a question regarding the natural asset management plan. If it

2972
05:13:14,143 --> 05:13:17,063
included, maybe this is a question for staff, but if

2973
05:13:17,244 --> 05:13:23,783
it included the areas adjacent, uh, to the municipality that

2974
05:13:23,823 --> 05:13:27,591
are within, that are contributing to the watershed areas. Particularly

2975
05:13:27,612 --> 05:13:32,631
for, as dawn brought up with regards to the floods.

2976
05:13:32,631 --> 05:13:35,331
And with regards to the health of the rippers, how

2977
05:13:35,532 --> 05:13:40,151
is, how does that plan consider these adjacent areas that

2978
05:13:40,652 --> 05:13:45,351
are having an effect or on, on our natural assets.

2979
05:13:46,455 --> 05:13:49,154
Yeah, my understanding is it's only focus on those natural

2980
05:13:49,335 --> 05:13:51,954
assets within North Couch and boundaries, but I can follow

2981
05:13:52,135 --> 05:13:54,914
up with staff afterwards and get back down that. Okay.

2982
05:13:55,255 --> 05:13:58,594
Yeah. I think it's important because with the flood event

2983
05:13:58,855 --> 05:14:02,914
that happened, a large part of that event was because

2984
05:14:02,935 --> 05:14:07,423
of what was happening outside of the municipality. And adjacent

2985
05:14:07,463 --> 05:14:11,762
property owner. Thank you. Agreed. Any other questions for Council.

2986
05:14:13,571 --> 05:14:16,190
Seeing none that concludes our business. So I'll declare this

2987
05:14:16,190 --> 05:14:16,750
meeting adjourn.