[1:20] All
[1:30] right, welcome everybody to the January
[1:32] 28th regular council meeting for the
[1:34] city of Courtney. And I'd like to start
[1:36] by respectfully acknowledging that the
[1:38] land on which we're gathered is the
[1:39] unseated territory of the Komox First
[1:41] Nation, the traditional keepers of this
[1:44] land. Um, we don't have any late items,
[1:47] but we'll move into adoption of minutes.
[1:49] uh from January 14th.
[1:53] >> All right, it's been [laughter] Thanks,
[1:55] » All right, it's been [laughter] Thanks,
[1:55] Council Morn. Um are there any errors or
[1:58] omissions?
[1:59] Seeing none, we'll accept the minutes
[2:02] unanimously and we'll move into
[2:04] presentations. Um and I don't see
[2:07] Inspector Mercer here. So, what we'll do
[2:08] is we'll just bear the agenda and um I
[2:11] think and when Inspector Mercer gets
[2:12] here, we can uh pop back to that and
[2:15] we'll move on to item 5.1 corporate
[2:18] facility energy management plan.
[2:22] That's all right. And I'll pass it over
[2:23] to Mr. Garbet. Thank you. uh through the
[2:26] merit council. Um Janine Tazioli will
[2:29] provide an overview of uh the corporate
[2:31] facility energy management plan report
[2:33] and we have uh our director of uh um
[2:38] engineering and environmental uh
[2:41] division online as well as a consultant,
[2:44] Miss Tazuli.
[2:47] >> Thanks Mr. Garbett. Um welcome mayor and
[2:50] » Thanks Mr. Garbett. Um welcome mayor and
[2:50] council. I'm looking forward to
[2:52] presenting our corporate facility energy
[2:54] management plan. Um this plan represents
[2:57] more than a year of work with our
[2:59] consultant from Prism Engineering um
[3:01] who's joining us virtually and we'll be
[3:04] talking about uh what this what this
[3:06] plan means for our buildings and the
[3:08] path forward.
[3:12] So our objective is modern and efficient
[3:15] facilities and reducing greenhouse gas
[3:18] emissions. So this plan identifies the
[3:20] specific upgrades and retrofits required
[3:23] to achieve those greenhouse gas
[3:25] reduction targets required by the
[3:27] provincial climate change accountability
[3:29] act in buildings owned by the city. The
[3:32] pie chart shows a breakdown of our
[3:36] greenhouse gas emissions portfolio
[3:38] across all aspects of the city. So this
[3:40] plan addresses the natural gas used in
[3:44] buildings as well as the electricity
[3:46] used in buildings which collectively
[3:48] represent 43% of our emissions profile.
[3:53] In addition to looking at what specific
[3:56] projects to do, part of this project
[3:58] looked at how to be successful with the
[4:01] implementation. And these are some key
[4:04] uh measures that came through. So, we
[4:07] want to focus on the buildings that
[4:08] consume the most natural gas. That will
[4:10] give us the largest reductions. We want
[4:13] to align our equipment replacements with
[4:15] the end of life of equipment.
[4:18] We'll work with BC Hydro um to ensure
[4:21] that there's enough electricity to
[4:23] supply our facilities at the time that
[4:25] we need it. Also working to align with
[4:28] their funding programs. We'll consult
[4:31] building occupants to ensure that we're
[4:32] accounting for their comfort and the use
[4:34] of the building. We'll seek external
[4:37] grants and funding and we'll track our
[4:39] progress. Uh we'll make sure that we
[4:41] have systems in place to monitor and
[4:43] measure the performance of the buildings
[4:45] and the utility consumption.
[4:49] So the scope of this project
[4:52] included our primary facilities and our
[4:54] smaller facilities. The primary
[4:57] facilities
[4:58] uh represent 90% of our emissions
[5:01] profile and for those ones we've done a
[5:03] detailed ashray level 2 energy
[5:05] assessment. This portion of the project
[5:08] was funded by FCM and the green
[5:10] municipal fund and their community
[5:12] building retrofit initiative and the
[5:15] final report is attached in u attachment
[5:19] 2. Our smaller facilities are represent
[5:23] only 18% of our emissions. We did a
[5:26] higher level assessment because these
[5:28] are more simple buildings with less
[5:30] moving parts. And that final report is
[5:33] included in attachment
[5:36] four.
[5:38] So this is a summary of our top
[5:40] emitters. The Lewis Center um was among
[5:44] the highest followed by the operations
[5:47] center, native sons hall, memorial pool,
[5:50] fire hall, library and art gallery. The
[5:53] proportion of the space on the graph
[5:56] represents the proportion of the
[5:57] emissions. So as we had reviewed um 90%
[6:03] the green and the blue are covered by
[6:06] our major facilities and that green
[6:08] square represents a collection of our
[6:10] smaller facilities which include lift
[6:12] stations, street lighting, washroom
[6:14] buildings etc.
[6:18] So our approach is a series of retrofits
[6:21] and upgrade projects planned from 2026
[6:25] to 2050.
[6:27] The general approach will be to operate
[6:29] optimize the operation of our existing
[6:32] equipment. Upgrading equipment at the
[6:35] end of life for facilities that are
[6:37] currently being used. So in cases where
[6:40] facilities may be retired or are at the
[6:43] end of their lifespan, we will not be
[6:45] upgrading the equipment in those
[6:46] facilities. We'll replace the existing
[6:49] equipment with high efficiency electric
[6:51] options. And then after that's complete,
[6:54] we'll consider on-site renewable energy.
[6:57] And this approach really recalls a
[7:01] phased approach with the first phase is
[7:04] um focusing on
[7:07] uh reducing our gas use, switching to
[7:09] electric options, making our electric
[7:11] options more efficient, and then looking
[7:13] at on-site generation to further reduce
[7:17] our um greenhouse gas reductions and
[7:20] build resilience for the city. So we um
[7:22] are resilient against power outages.
[7:34] So this is a summary of what the
[7:37] proposed plan um means as far as
[7:40] greenhouse gas reductions across our
[7:42] portfolio. So in a business as usual
[7:46] case, if we were to not proceed with
[7:48] this plan and simply replace equipment
[7:50] at end of life with no consideration for
[7:53] its uh consumption of gas or its
[7:56] efficiency, we would have some moderate
[7:58] gains just from um equipment becoming
[8:03] more efficient. However, the most gains
[8:06] really come with the implementation of
[8:09] this plan where we are considering what
[8:14] what reduces our emissions most and and
[8:16] planning for things that are end of life
[8:18] and and completing those projects in a
[8:20] strategic way. You'll also notice on
[8:23] this graph there are two emission
[8:26] targets. These are provincial emission
[8:28] targets that are outlined in the climate
[8:30] change accountability act. And so it is
[8:33] our goal and direction we've received
[8:36] from council so far to prepare a plan to
[8:39] meet those reduction targets. And we can
[8:41] see the timeline um for when we might
[8:44] expect those reductions on this graph. I
[8:47] will note that this is all modeled and
[8:50] our actual performance will be based
[8:52] will be measured as we go um once we
[8:55] complete some of those upgrade projects.
[9:00] So this is a summary of the financial
[9:02] implications.
[9:04] The costs here are the capital costs to
[9:07] complete the projects. Also noted are
[9:10] the base case costs for each year. And
[9:13] the base case represents that
[9:16] cost for equipment that is at the end of
[9:18] life and if we were to just replace it
[9:21] um with no consideration for greenhouse
[9:24] gas reductions, that's the cost that we
[9:26] would incur.
[9:28] So um this project has been grant funded
[9:31] so far with no tax impacts. There are a
[9:34] number of grant funding streams
[9:35] available for implementation phases. We
[9:38] also have some reserve funds available
[9:42] um that must be spent on greenhouse gas
[9:44] reduction initiatives through our LGCAP
[9:47] local government climate action plan
[9:49] funds. And these amounts were provided
[9:52] in the five-year financial plan and 2026
[9:55] budget for council consideration.
[10:01] So with that um we have a couple of
[10:03] resolutions for consideration and I'm
[10:05] happy to take any questions.
[10:10] Excellent. Thank you very much for uh
[10:11] the presentation. It's good to see
[10:13] things meen and Wong and uh uh it's uh
[10:17] really like the um diagram just kind of
[10:20] showing where most of the energy is
[10:22] coming from uh kind of in in uh in uh
[10:25] comparison with the other buildings. Uh
[10:26] with that I'll pass it over to councelor
[10:30] I don't think the mouse is working.
[10:31] Councelor Cole Hamilton.
[10:33] >> Yeah, thanks Marin. Thanks so much for
[10:34] » Yeah, thanks Marin. Thanks so much for
[10:34] the report Janine. Um this is important
[10:38] work and it's good to see that we're
[10:39] doing it in a very cost-effective way. I
[10:41] appreciate it seeing that all of the
[10:42] studies so far have all been um produced
[10:45] by grant funding and uh the LGCAP
[10:49] funding obviously comes from the
[10:50] province for and is required to be spent
[10:52] on exactly this kind of work. Um
[10:56] so I guess my my question was uh just to
[10:58] dig a bit deeper on the funding aspect.
[11:01] Um it strikes me that the the base case
[11:04] that you spoke of which is replacing
[11:06] like with like if we just uh were going
[11:09] to do business as usual um that that
[11:12] would be covered by the uh by the SIP.
[11:16] Um so and it would make sense that it
[11:18] would be covered by the SIP according in
[11:20] my by my way of thinking it's replacing
[11:23] existing infrastructure and the increase
[11:26] in level of service um would be covered
[11:30] would make sense to be covered by LGCAP
[11:32] and I'm wondering if um if that is a a
[11:36] way of allocating the uh the
[11:39] expenditures required to to implement
[11:41] this. um if you had any thoughts on the
[11:44] way it's currently structured which you
[11:46] think is all LGCAP versus using the SIP
[11:48] to uh cover replacement of existing
[11:51] infrastructure.
[11:55] » Uh thanks councelor Cole Hamilton. I'm
[11:57] able to provide some technical
[11:59] background around those base cases. So
[12:02] because there is a basease cost, I think
[12:04] that proportion is eligible for funding
[12:07] through the SIP which is the sustainable
[12:10] infrastructure program. Um but using
[12:13] that fund would be a choice made by
[12:16] council and um our financial officer. So
[12:20] I think that perhaps that could be a
[12:22] budget conversation, but maybe I'll
[12:23] defer to Mr. Garbett to weigh in.
[12:28] >> Uh thank you through the mayor. Um when
[12:30] » Uh thank you through the mayor. Um when
[12:30] we presented the financial uh plan,
[12:32] capital projects uh were identified uh
[12:35] ranging from linear to vertical assets.
[12:38] Some of them are funded by the SIP funds
[12:41] and it would be um given the amount of
[12:45] uh asset management we need to do. um
[12:52] the recommendations a variety of sources
[12:58] to to the and these uh building
[13:00] improvements. And so at at this point u
[13:04] u our finance officer when we discussed
[13:07] this at the uh financial plan can run
[13:10] over the the table that was presented to
[13:12] council on the number of items in 2026
[13:15] 78 and what their proposed capital
[13:17] funding sources are. Uh but at this
[13:19] point yes all of these items would be
[13:22] SIP eligible. uh and in the current plan
[13:25] some of them uh for the works that are
[13:28] planned are are using SIP money and some
[13:32] are using uh reserves uh other types of
[13:35] reserves. So we we could note that u and
[13:38] uh although Mr. Langmar is uh attending
[13:40] this meeting electronically uh if he
[13:43] wants to weigh in any further but I
[13:44] think that's the status at this point.
[13:48] >> Could I ask a clarifying follow-up
[13:50] » Could I ask a clarifying follow-up
[13:50] question? I I mean I I know in the uh in
[13:53] the staff report it it referenced using
[13:55] LGCAP fun buttons, but I also note the
[13:57] resolution that was on the screen a
[13:59] second ago um doesn't speak to where the
[14:01] funding is going to come from that that
[14:04] so would I be correct in thinking that
[14:06] the actual um decision SIP versus LGCAP
[14:10] will be made at a later date and doesn't
[14:12] need to be made today given that it's
[14:14] not referenced in the recommendations.
[14:19] » Thank you through the mayor. That would
[14:20] be that would be my uh recommendation at
[14:22] this point. Um
[14:25] and uh as I said, Mr. Langmare is is
[14:29] participating electronically. If we uh
[14:31] thought that we needed uh any different
[14:33] direction than that, he would respond.
[14:35] So we can wait till uh that uh
[14:39] discussion could be tackled uh at our
[14:42] February 11th
[14:43] um meeting where the financial plan will
[14:46] be presented.
[14:47] >> Okay. Thanks very much. [clears throat]
[14:49] » Okay. Thanks very much. [clears throat]
[14:49] Thanks, Councelor Cole Hamilton and
[14:50] councelor Ilian.
[14:52] >> Thanks, Mayor, and thanks very much for
[14:54] » Thanks, Mayor, and thanks very much for
[14:54] the work on this. I'm just curious if um
[14:57] uh I don't think we have any solar uh
[15:00] installations yet, apart from the uh the
[15:03] crosswalks. Uh um do you know at what
[15:07] point we will start doing uh solar
[15:10] additions to uh to new roofs? Uh I
[15:13] wasn't sure whether the um uh the Woodco
[15:16] Park uh replacement might have included
[15:18] that. Uh but that's gone ahead before
[15:21] this report. So I just appreciate an
[15:24] update on uh when you think we might
[15:26] actually see uh solar roofing panels on
[15:29] city buildings.
[15:31] >> Great question. Um Councelor Hillian, I
[15:34] » Great question. Um Councelor Hillian, I
[15:34] think it's important to note that
[15:36] there's two different objectives when it
[15:37] comes to solar panel installations. So
[15:40] in some cases it's a great way to
[15:42] provide electrical service in locations
[15:44] that don't have power hookup and we see
[15:48] small p small small solar panels used in
[15:51] that way across the city for temporary
[15:54] traffic billboards or um you know
[15:57] lighting that that kind of thing. When
[16:00] we're looking at permanent installations
[16:02] on our facilities that's planned in 2041
[16:05] and beyond. Um, this plan takes us to
[16:07] our 2050 goals and the intention of
[16:11] those installations is for on-site
[16:14] generation. So, we can power our
[16:16] buildings using power generated onsite
[16:18] to build resilience and reduce our
[16:21] greenhouse gas emissions. And that's not
[16:23] something we would pursue until our
[16:26] buildings are already electric and
[16:28] efficient so that we can, you know, use
[16:31] that solar powered generated on site
[16:35] most effectively.
[16:37] >> Thanks very much. Appreciate that. And
[16:39] » Thanks very much. Appreciate that. And
[16:39] councelor McCullum.
[16:41] >> Yeah, thanks Marin. Thanks for the
[16:42] » Yeah, thanks Marin. Thanks for the
[16:42] report. Um it's great to see this uh
[16:45] coming through and um yeah our approach
[16:49] and the rationale to how we're funding
[16:51] it and um you know the um
[16:55] how we're going to address those
[16:57] transitions over time based on when our
[17:00] equipment is needing replacement and
[17:02] looking for opportunities to improve um
[17:05] how we're using energy in our buildings
[17:06] makes a lot of sense to me. Uh, one
[17:09] question I did have is, um, as far as I
[17:12] could tell, there wasn't, um, a lot of
[17:15] analysis on whether or not there's cost
[17:17] savings and in terms of like future
[17:20] operational costs going with electricity
[17:23] over natural gas. Um, and I mean with
[17:28] the um change in taxation on natural gas
[17:31] um with the um carbon tax being removed
[17:35] and I realize there's a lot more
[17:37] variability with um natural gas than I I
[17:40] think electricity rates are are
[17:41] reasonably predictable. Um but I'm
[17:44] wondering if we have a sense of whether
[17:45] or not this represents an operational
[17:47] savings or um like for like or if you if
[17:50] you have any insights into that that
[17:52] would be good to know as well.
[17:55] Thanks, councelor McCullum. What are we
[17:58] do have data on that and I will point
[18:00] out that it is available um in
[18:03] attachment three and appendix B or C
[18:07] that has a list of all of the specific
[18:10] upgrades or that are planned at each
[18:11] building and for each specific upgrade
[18:14] um it indicates if we can expect some
[18:17] operational savings or not and in cases
[18:20] where we are switching from gas to an
[18:23] electricity it's likely that it we may
[18:25] have additional util ility costs because
[18:28] electricity so far has been more
[18:30] expensive than gas. In cases where we
[18:33] are making or we are using electricity
[18:36] more efficiently, we do expect an
[18:38] operational cost savings. And so it it's
[18:41] quite project dependent and we have
[18:43] those two variables happening at the
[18:45] same time where we are increasing
[18:48] electricity use while decreasing gas use
[18:51] across our portfolio.
[18:54] Sorry, which attachment did you say
[18:56] that? What's attachment three? Appendix
[19:01] appendix B
[19:04] are numbered differently. I Yeah, I'm
[19:06] sorry. I didn't see that when I was
[19:07] reading through the reports.
[19:14] Appendix P. I'll find it. Um, yeah, we
[19:17] can we can carry on. But uh yeah, that's
[19:19] useful and and that does make sense to
[19:21] me that um it's case dependent.
[19:25] >> So I misspoke. Uh attachment for
[19:28] » So I misspoke. Uh attachment for
[19:28] appendix B if
[19:30] >> Oh, okay. Yeah, in the big report. Okay,
[19:32] » Oh, okay. Yeah, in the big report. Okay,
[19:32] thanks. I'll I'll go back and look at
[19:34] that.
[19:36] >> And thanks uh councelor McCullum and
[19:38] » And thanks uh councelor McCullum and
[19:38] councelor Fr.
[19:39] >> Yeah, thanks Mayor. Um in the case of
[19:41] » Yeah, thanks Mayor. Um in the case of
[19:41] the native hall, that's something that
[19:44] you're interested in doing sooner than
[19:45] later, it looks like. Um, where's that
[19:48] heating plant at? Like it does it need
[19:50] to be replaced this year? Is that why
[19:52] it's first on the docket?
[19:56] » Great question, Councelor Fr. Um, that
[19:58] heating plant uh definitely needs to be
[20:01] replaced. It's end of life and I was
[20:03] told by our facility maintenance folks
[20:05] that we could be experiencing cold
[20:07] spells if we don't replace it in short
[20:09] order. So, that one is at the top of our
[20:12] priority list for that reason.
[20:14] >> Yeah. And um yeah, I don't I don't know
[20:16] » Yeah. And um yeah, I don't I don't know
[20:16] a lot about heating systems, but it
[20:18] looks like it's maybe 60,000 to replace
[20:20] it with the existing something like what
[20:22] we have. I assume that's a gas, I know,
[20:25] boiler or something similar. Um yet it's
[20:29] $350,000 for an electric I assume. Is it
[20:32] a heat pump or is it an electric boiler?
[20:35] Sorry to get into the nitty-gritty. I
[20:36] just it's a lot of money. It's a huge
[20:38] difference between the electric version
[20:40] and the gas version. And maybe there's
[20:42] also some other pieces that have to be
[20:43] replaced for changing fuel source.
[20:47] >> Great question. Um, is our consultant
[20:50] » Great question. Um, is our consultant
[20:50] from Prism on the line? Um, I think this
[20:53] would be a great technical question to
[20:55] get some of their input. So, um, I'll
[20:57] pass that over to Emma from Prism.
[21:00] >> Hi. Can you all hear me?
[21:03] » Hi. Can you all hear me?
[21:03] >> Yep.
[21:03] » Yep.
[21:03] >> Yes. Great. Thank you so much for that
[21:05] » Yes. Great. Thank you so much for that
[21:05] question. That's a good one. So the
[21:07] Native Suns Hall um boiler plant heating
[21:10] plant upgrade um actually is with a
[21:15] higher efficiency boiler but there's
[21:16] other work involved that has increased
[21:18] the cost. Um and specifically that has
[21:21] to do with the piping through the
[21:22] building. Um so while we were on site we
[21:25] noticed that the way it has been piped
[21:27] to the building leads to inefficiencies,
[21:29] a lot of heat radiating to spaces where
[21:31] it doesn't need to be. So, a lot of
[21:32] losses along the way and so this upgrade
[21:36] um most of the cost is to improve those
[21:39] efficiencies that will critically help
[21:41] with occupant comfort and improve the
[21:44] efficiency of the system overall. So,
[21:46] that's where we see a big cost.
[21:49] >> Yeah, thanks for that. I guess I just
[21:51] » Yeah, thanks for that. I guess I just
[21:51] want to make sure that staff are looking
[21:52] at it obviously with a critical eye
[21:54] trying to figure out, you know, um
[21:56] because we are entering a bit of a
[21:58] session if anyone's not noticed and uh
[22:00] so maybe we make sure that we're doing
[22:01] what needs to be done in the most
[22:03] efficient way and it sounds like that's
[22:05] what you're doing. So I appreciate that.
[22:06] Thanks.
[22:12] » Okay. Uh that was going to be my next
[22:14] question. I don't see anything any
[22:15] questions. Somebody like to second it.
[22:17] >> All right. Motion's moved and seconded.
[22:19] » All right. Motion's moved and seconded.
[22:19] Uh any questions or comments with motion
[22:21] on the floor? See none. All those in
[22:24] favor
[22:26] motion carries. All right,
[22:30] we'll move on to um uh next item under
[22:35] financial services, Courtney Marina
[22:37] Society renewal lease. And at this
[22:39] point, I'll uh just declare my uh
[22:42] conflict of interest and I'll pass it
[22:44] over to councelor Morn as acting mayor
[22:46] and uh vacate my seat.
[22:55] Okay. So, I think I'll hand it over to
[22:58] staff to introduce this uh this report.
[23:00] Thank you.
[23:03] I need to Where's my mic?
[23:06] Yeah,
[23:08] it's usually on the other side the
[23:10] regional district.
[23:11] >> Thank you. uh through the uh acting
[23:13] » Thank you. uh through the uh acting
[23:13] mayor uh to councel um our manager of
[23:17] procurement risk and real estate Scott
[23:18] Hinssworth who's going to introduce this
[23:20] report.
[23:24] Thank you Mr. Garbet. Uh through the
[23:26] city manager to the acting man the
[23:28] acting mayor uh in council. Uh this
[23:31] report seeks council direction on
[23:33] renewing the lease uh with the Courtney
[23:35] Renewal Courtney Marina Society for the
[23:38] city-owned marina lands on the Courtney
[23:40] waterfront. The city has leased the
[23:42] marina facilities to the Courtney Marina
[23:44] Society for over 30 years to support
[23:46] public access to the water, including
[23:48] small motorized and non-motorized
[23:50] vessels. The society is a notfor-profit
[23:53] organization that operates and maintains
[23:54] the marina on behalf of the city. Over
[23:58] time, the society has made investments
[23:59] in the marina at its own expense,
[24:01] including dock upgrades, storm repairs,
[24:03] safety improvements, and ongoing
[24:05] maintenance.
[24:06] The current lease term expires at the
[24:08] end of 2025 or has expired at the end of
[24:10] 2025 uh with the and the society is
[24:13] requesting a renewal um effective
[24:15] January 1st, 2026.
[24:18] As part of the renewal, staff reviewed
[24:20] uh existing revenue sharing the the
[24:22] existing revenue sharing arrangement and
[24:24] commissioned an independent appraisal to
[24:26] establish the market rental value of the
[24:29] submerged lands. The appraisal
[24:31] determined that the market lease value
[24:33] is approximately $10,100 annually
[24:35] recognizing the unique constraints of
[24:37] the site including tide dependent access
[24:40] as well as limited amenities.
[24:42] Staff also considered the broader
[24:44] planning context. A local area plan for
[24:45] the Courtney Air Park and Marina
[24:47] precinct is scheduled for 2027 and staff
[24:50] recommend that the lease be revisited
[24:52] once that planning work is complete to
[24:54] ensure alignment with future land use
[24:56] direction.
[24:58] Council's presented with several options
[24:59] ranging from maintaining the status quo
[25:02] revenue sharing model to moving
[25:03] immediately to a full market lease rate.
[25:05] Staff are recommending option one, a
[25:07] graduated lease rate. This approach
[25:09] transitions from the current revenue
[25:11] sharing model to uh toward full market
[25:14] rent over the 5-year term. The
[25:16] recommended option balances fiscal
[25:17] responsibility with the operational
[25:19] realities of a small not for-profit
[25:21] society, reducing administrative
[25:23] complexity over time and maintains
[25:25] continuity of marina operations while
[25:27] longerterm planning is underway. Staff
[25:30] are also recommending updated lease
[25:31] provisions to streamline administration,
[25:33] including GST treatment and clearer
[25:36] membership requirements. In summary, uh
[25:39] the recommended approach supports public
[25:41] access to the waterfront, recognizes the
[25:43] society's long-standing role in
[25:44] investments and positions the city to
[25:46] reassess the arrangement once broader
[25:48] precinct planning is complete. And with
[25:50] that, I'd be happy to take any
[25:51] questions.
[25:52] >> Great. Thank you. And I see councelor
[25:54] » Great. Thank you. And I see councelor
[25:54] Hillian has a question. Go ahead.
[25:56] >> Thanks, Acting Mayor. I was just curious
[25:59] » Thanks, Acting Mayor. I was just curious
[25:59] um thanks for the work in the report, by
[26:01] the way. Uh I was curious about um if
[26:04] market value is uh is that amount now in
[26:08] 5 years isn't it going to be more and
[26:10] does it put us into um another catchup
[26:13] situation?
[26:14] >> Uh it it could potentially put us at
[26:17] » Uh it it could potentially put us at
[26:17] another catch-up situation. Um I I think
[26:19] to a much lesser degree than what we're
[26:21] looking to achieve at at this time. Um,
[26:23] I think given the magnitude of the
[26:25] change, uh, staff didn't feel like an
[26:27] additional cost or CPI increase was
[26:30] necessary, but we can certainly look at
[26:32] that if council wishes.
[26:36] » Okay. And
[26:40] councelor FR.
[26:42] >> Yeah. Thanks, acting mayor. Um, my
[26:44] » Yeah. Thanks, acting mayor. Um, my
[26:44] question is around whether
[26:47] [clears throat]
[26:48] the um, society collects the fees and
[26:51] then remits the rest to us. That's how
[26:52] it works. It kind of flows through them.
[26:54] And so I'm wondering if we're we're
[26:57] going to increase their rates um if you
[27:00] think it's realistic that they'll be
[27:01] able to um charge those rates based on
[27:04] you know it it's very title access
[27:07] there. So you think the market will bear
[27:09] that or is that our assumption then when
[27:11] we get them up to you know $10,000 and
[27:13] in lease fees to us?
[27:16] Sorry. Um no thanks for the question.
[27:18] Based on feedback from the the Marina
[27:20] Society and a review of their financial
[27:22] statements, we didn't think that there
[27:23] was a this was causing a real barrier to
[27:26] their financial operations. So, initial
[27:27] feedback has hasn't uh raised any red
[27:30] flags.
[27:31] >> Okay, thanks very much.
[27:35] » Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Um,
[27:37] is there any further discussion? Seeing
[27:40] none, all in favor?
[27:43] No one opposed. Okay, thank you. I guess
[27:46] we'll call the mayor back in.
[28:02] Thank you, Councelor Morren. Much
[28:03] appreciated. And we'll move into uh the
[28:07] fire department uh UBCM community
[28:10] emergency preparedness fund grant
[28:12] application. And I'll
[28:15] turn on your microphone there in a sec.
[28:26] All right. And Mr. Garbert.
[28:30] >> Yeah. Thank you. Through the mayor to
[28:31] » Yeah. Thank you. Through the mayor to
[28:31] council. Um
[28:33] this report in front of you, Chief
[28:35] McDonald is going to give an overview. I
[28:36] just wanted to continue to highlight the
[28:39] partnership and leader and leadership uh
[28:41] that our we continue to have our fire
[28:43] department evolve into a uh
[28:45] multi-jurisdictional emergency
[28:47] management support center. Um and uh
[28:52] this has been discussed uh at the uh CEO
[28:55] level that this kind of uh joint
[28:57] approach both through grant support and
[29:00] program support to the emergency program
[29:02] is really critical for it to be
[29:03] effective. But I just I I want to take
[29:05] every opportunity to highlight the uh
[29:08] partnership that we continue to um
[29:10] support. Chief McDonald,
[29:14] thank you through the CEO to Mayor and
[29:16] Council. Uh the purpose of this report
[29:17] is to seek council approval to reapply
[29:20] for the following Union of BC
[29:22] municipalities community emergency
[29:24] preparedness fund regional application
[29:26] streams. the emergency operations center
[29:29] equipment and training, emergency
[29:31] support services equipment and training
[29:32] funding, public notification and
[29:35] evacuation planning and indigenous
[29:37] cultural safety and humility. Uh as uh
[29:40] this CEO has stated that this
[29:42] application is being made in partnership
[29:45] with the Komox Valley Regional District,
[29:47] town of Komox Village of Cumberland and
[29:49] Komox First Nation, which allows us to
[29:53] look at these uh projects with a
[29:57] regional lens and provide maximum value
[29:59] to the amount of funding that's coming
[30:01] in. Uh fairly straightforward uh report
[30:04] and happy to take any questions if you
[30:06] have any on them.
[30:08] >> Fantastic. I really appreciate it's
[30:10] » Fantastic. I really appreciate it's
[30:10] great to see this regional partnership
[30:12] uh um on these uh applications and um I
[30:17] don't really see uh councelor MREN
[30:21] >> Oh, sorry. Yeah, I just wanted to say
[30:23] » Oh, sorry. Yeah, I just wanted to say
[30:23] thank you for being uh diligent in
[30:26] applying for grants. This is on the
[30:27] heels of course of the other the
[30:29] regional uh big award that the region
[30:32] received for the community resiliency um
[30:36] uh fires smart. So hopefully you'll be
[30:38] just as lucky with this one. Thank you.
[30:41] >> Thank you.
[30:43] » Thank you.
[30:44] >> Right, it's been moved and seconded. I
[30:45] » Right, it's been moved and seconded. I
[30:45] don't think there's much discussion. All
[30:47] those in favor? Any opposed? And motion
[30:50] carries. And uh the next item is
[30:52] Courtney Fire Department annual report.
[30:55] Back to you. Uh fire chief.
[30:58] >> Thank you through the CEO to Mayor and
[31:00] » Thank you through the CEO to Mayor and
[31:00] Council. Again, I'd like to thank you
[31:01] for the opportunity to present the Cordi
[31:03] Fire Department's 2025 annual report.
[31:07] Uh, I'll be providing you an overview of
[31:08] what the department did over the past
[31:10] year, starting with who we are, then
[31:12] moving into response activity,
[31:14] prevention, training, and our work
[31:16] beyond municipal boundaries.
[31:19] The Courtney Fire Department operates as
[31:20] a composite department, combining a
[31:22] small career staff with a large
[31:24] volunteer component. Our volunteers
[31:26] handle a significant portion of
[31:27] emergency response particularly in
[31:29] evenings, nights and weekends early
[31:32] evenings. Uh this model continues to
[31:35] work because of our strong training
[31:37] coordination and a high level of
[31:38] commitment from our members which is a
[31:40] theme that you'll see reflected through
[31:41] the rest of this report.
[31:47] Looking at overall response activity in
[31:49] 2025, the department responded to 1,36
[31:52] calls for service. That's slightly lower
[31:54] than 2024. And this decrease was driven
[31:57] mainly by fewer ambulance assists and
[32:00] fewer open burning responses. While the
[32:02] total number of calls declined, the
[32:04] amount of time and effort required to
[32:06] manage incidents remains substantial,
[32:08] particularly for our volunteer members.
[32:12] When we look at where those calls
[32:13] occurred, the majority were west of the
[32:15] Cordy River, which is consistent with
[32:19] pretty much every year that we've been
[32:20] tracking these stats. We still do have a
[32:23] consistent significant portion of
[32:25] responses to the east side, but again,
[32:27] not as much as to the west. Um,
[32:31] this split has remained fairly stable
[32:33] year after year and is an important
[32:35] operational consideration when we're
[32:36] looking at staffing, deployment, and
[32:38] response coverage across the city.
[32:42] Breaking those calls down further, alarm
[32:44] activations were the most common
[32:45] response types in 2025. Open burning and
[32:48] motor vehicle incidents followed with
[32:50] public service calls and ambulance
[32:51] assists continue to represent a
[32:53] meaningful share of our workload.
[32:57] Prevention and public education are key
[32:59] parts of reducing emergency risk in the
[33:01] community. In 2025, staff completed more
[33:04] than 1,800 fire inspections and
[33:06] delivered 191 public education events.
[33:09] Most deficiencies identified during
[33:11] inspections were minor in nature. things
[33:13] like emergency lighting or fire
[33:15] extinguishers with that required
[33:16] servicing which indicates good overall
[33:18] compliance. This work plays a
[33:21] significant role in improving fire
[33:22] safety before emergencies occur.
[33:31] Supporting both response and prevention
[33:32] is a strong emphasis on training. In
[33:34] 2025, members completed over 4,900 hours
[33:38] of training covering fire suppression,
[33:39] auto extrication, self-rescue, and
[33:41] medical response. Included in that
[33:43] medical response was required BC
[33:47] emergency medical assistance gap
[33:49] training which was completed ensuring
[33:51] compliance with updated medical response
[33:53] standards. Essentially, they increased
[33:55] the uh types of um protocols and
[34:00] treatment that we could could provide to
[34:02] a patient and it required everyone in
[34:04] our department to go through a day's
[34:06] worth of training, additional training
[34:08] over and above everything else that they
[34:09] have to do. Uh we've also started a new
[34:12] recruit class in September and those
[34:14] members have been progressing very well
[34:16] through the program. They're actually at
[34:18] this stage now where they're going to be
[34:20] doing their first live fire uh training
[34:22] where they'll be going into the burn
[34:24] building that we have at the training
[34:25] ground and we'll be seeing how they
[34:27] perform under those types of of
[34:29] situations.
[34:34] Beyond day-to-day operations, the
[34:36] department also supported broader
[34:37] emergency and wildfire response efforts
[34:39] in 2025. While the local emergency
[34:42] program activations were limited, those
[34:44] would be for your uh warming and/or
[34:46] cooling events, uh provincial wildfire
[34:49] activity remained significant. Cordi
[34:52] fire department personnel were deployed
[34:53] to support wildfire suppression and
[34:55] emergency operation center operations
[34:57] during the Wesley Ridge and the Mount
[34:58] Underwood fires, working alongside
[35:00] regional and provincial partners.
[35:05] Alongside emergency response and
[35:07] training, the department also worked on
[35:08] several internal priorities throughout
[35:09] the year. These included work related to
[35:11] facilities, staffing analysis, and fleet
[35:14] planning, all managed while maintaining
[35:16] uninterrupted emergency service
[35:18] delivery. In summary, 2025 was a year of
[35:21] steady response activity, strong
[35:23] volunteer engagement, and continued
[35:25] emphasis on training, prevention, and
[35:26] regional cooperation. On behalf of the
[35:28] members of the Courtney Fire Department,
[35:29] I'd like to thank council for its
[35:31] continued support, and I'd be happy to
[35:32] answer any questions you may have.
[35:35] So, thanks so much for for the report.
[35:37] It's great to see uh all the numbers. Um
[35:39] maybe I have a a quick question on
[35:41] whether or not um this is something that
[35:43] gets uh advertised uh through social
[35:46] media like on the the volunteer
[35:48] firefighters um Facebook page, that kind
[35:50] of stuff, or it's something that just
[35:52] comes to council.
[35:53] >> Are referring to the stats?
[35:54] » Are referring to the stats?
[35:54] >> Uh yeah. Or or the Yeah,
[35:57] » Uh yeah. Or or the Yeah,
[35:57] >> generally just present it to council. We
[35:59] » generally just present it to council. We
[35:59] do do some highlights of of like bigger
[36:01] events on uh Facebook or use social
[36:03] media but again just prefer to use
[36:06] prefer to use this venue to to discuss
[36:08] and they've got access to it through the
[36:10] annual report that comes out I think in
[36:11] June and things like that. So the public
[36:13] does have access if they want it they
[36:14] can also phone the fire department and
[36:15] we can answer questions that way as
[36:17] well. But uh yeah
[36:19] >> fair enough. Thanks very much and Mr.
[36:21] » fair enough. Thanks very much and Mr.
[36:21] Carbid.
[36:21] >> Uh thank you through the mayor. with
[36:23] » Uh thank you through the mayor. with
[36:23] respect to talking about the activities
[36:25] of the city. It's a segue I can mention
[36:27] our uh electronic um um
[36:30] >> newsletter
[36:31] » newsletter
[36:31] >> newsletter and so I just was looking at
[36:33] » newsletter and so I just was looking at
[36:33] this afternoon and it will have
[36:34] information about fire department
[36:36] activities. So, it's a great opportunity
[36:38] to talk about the good work that the
[36:39] taxpayers of Courtney Fund and all the
[36:42] good work that our uh collective staff
[36:44] groups are doing
[36:45] >> and and my apologies for not saying
[36:47] » and and my apologies for not saying
[36:47] newsletter because uh it's so new. Uh
[36:49] but it uh I've [clears throat] gotten
[36:51] feedback on it already. Uh everything
[36:54] basically positive which is great great
[36:55] to hear and uh um and again pro probably
[36:59] an even better place to get that
[37:00] information out through. So, thanks Mr.
[37:02] Carvet. Uh councelor McCullum. Yeah,
[37:05] thanks mayor and thanks for the report.
[37:07] I I just had a question on the slide
[37:09] that was showing um the east side uh
[37:13] response or the calls versus the west.
[37:17] Is that limit are those numbers limited
[37:20] to the city of Kourtney calls or does
[37:23] that also include the um our fire
[37:26] protection area that we cover?
[37:28] >> Great question. that it's all the
[37:30] » Great question. that it's all the
[37:30] responses including the fire protection
[37:32] district. The Courtney Fire Protection
[37:34] District though is divided up into three
[37:36] chunks. One would be south of Walmart.
[37:38] So those would count in the west. Uh the
[37:41] other would be north of uh Virginia
[37:44] Drive or Piery area there. So actually
[37:47] Piery isn't that would be considered
[37:48] west because it's west of the river, but
[37:51] north of um Virginia Drive that would be
[37:54] considered in the east. And then you
[37:55] have the chunk that basically is along
[37:58] Dyke Road out by the animal hospital.
[38:00] There's a small piece of the fire
[38:01] protection district that uh that belongs
[38:04] to that. That said, just off the top of
[38:07] my head, probably our responses to the
[38:09] fire protection district in total would
[38:11] be maybe a hundred for the for the
[38:13] whole. So of the third, you know, that
[38:16] basically means that the other 1,200
[38:17] responses or let's just say 1150 for for
[38:20] sake of argument here, 1150 are city
[38:22] responses.
[38:23] >> Okay. Yeah, that's helpful. Thanks for
[38:24] » Okay. Yeah, that's helpful. Thanks for
[38:24] that context.
[38:26] >> Thanks, Council McCullum and Councelor
[38:28] » Thanks, Council McCullum and Councelor
[38:28] Moore.
[38:29] >> Great. Thanks, Mayor. Um, just a
[38:31] » Great. Thanks, Mayor. Um, just a
[38:31] comment. I I know it's not significant
[38:33] enough to include in your report, but
[38:35] from a managerial perspective, you did
[38:37] take council down to the Dashwood fireh
[38:39] hall, and I wanted to mention that
[38:41] because um that has influenced um the
[38:44] design of the new fireh hall to to be as
[38:48] economical as possible and to scale back
[38:50] kind of the original plans. And I just
[38:52] wanted to um show appreciation for kind
[38:55] of thinking outside the box and and
[38:58] taking that extra effort so that we can
[39:00] try to um yeah try to manage the finance
[39:03] as well and still have a a great new
[39:05] fireh hall, but um modeling it somewhat
[39:08] a um after the the one in Qualcomm. And
[39:12] then also just um it was just really
[39:15] even though it was a sort of sad
[39:17] occasion at Lawrence Burns um uh
[39:20] memorial service, it was just really
[39:22] impressive to see all the local
[39:24] firefighters of course from across the
[39:26] region, but just to hear um I think
[39:30] comments and when I was chatting with
[39:31] people after the service just there just
[39:34] seems to be a really great climate um
[39:36] within the Courtney Fire Department um
[39:38] with our personnel and um yeah and I
[39:41] think That's obviously um kudos to
[39:44] yourself as well as other supervisors
[39:47] and um and the and the way that you
[39:49] operate um the training programs and
[39:51] everything else. So, thank you.
[39:54] >> Thank you very much for the comments. I
[39:55] » Thank you very much for the comments. I
[39:55] would like to just throw a little some
[39:58] appreciation to our honor guard. Uh they
[40:01] were the ones that led the Burns family
[40:02] in and out and I honestly have not seen
[40:05] them perform as well as they did for
[40:07] that particular that particular event.
[40:09] It was it was really meaningful to the
[40:11] family and I was I mean proud of
[40:13] everybody obviously but really proud of
[40:15] the effort that that group put in. So
[40:16] again, thank you very much for
[40:18] acknowledging that.
[40:20] >> Thanks Councelor Morren and Councelor
[40:22] » Thanks Councelor Morren and Councelor
[40:22] Hill.
[40:23] >> Thanks Mayor. That's actually what I
[40:25] » Thanks Mayor. That's actually what I
[40:25] wanted to do and and um to acknowledge
[40:28] that honor guard and the fine job that
[40:30] your department did on that day. But I
[40:32] also wanted to commend you on your your
[40:34] words and uh say how uh how well you did
[40:36] on that occasion and and uh I think you
[40:39] and your department did the city proud
[40:41] um as you honored the service of a truly
[40:45] remarkable leader. Thank you.
[40:47] >> Thank you very much.
[40:49] » Thank you very much.
[40:49] >> All right. I don't see any further uh um
[40:53] » All right. I don't see any further uh um
[40:53] questions or comments. Uh so again,
[40:55] yeah, thanks so much and and uh yeah,
[40:57] the the celebration of life for uh
[40:59] Lawrence was just an amazing event uh
[41:02] and just really appreciated everybody
[41:03] who took took part in that to uh really
[41:06] honor his his memory. So um with that,
[41:09] if someone can make the recommendation.
[41:12] >> All right,
[41:14] » All right,
[41:14] all those in favor and motion carries.
[41:18] And um and I do see that uh Inspector
[41:21] Mercer is here. So we can um meander
[41:23] back to
[41:25] um where did it go? Item 4.1 for Komox
[41:30] Valley RCMP.
[41:32] And the microphone's already on. We've
[41:35] got the um
[41:38] PowerPoint ready to go. Is the clicker
[41:41] up there as well? You should have a
[41:43] clicker there.
[41:47] partner didn't disinfect it either, so
[41:49] sure you're fine, right?
[41:52] We joke, we kid. Police and fire love
[41:54] each other.
[41:58] » Uh well, thank you council for having
[42:00] me. I apologize for uh not being here on
[42:02] time. I was uh unfortunately called away
[42:04] on something else operationally, but uh
[42:07] nonetheless, I am here to discuss the
[42:09] third quarter uh report. uh the slides
[42:11] that I believe that have been presented
[42:13] to you should reflect quarterto quarter
[42:16] on it. Uh my initial slides uh slide
[42:18] deck that I uh provided was a
[42:20] comparative from uh the this year from
[42:24] last uh to last year. So while my data
[42:27] in front of me is from uh year to year
[42:29] I'll roll through this. I don't think
[42:31] it'll differ too much.
[42:33] Uh in the third quarter of the 2025 2026
[42:37] fiscal year, there was a 505 505 file
[42:41] increase in the number of calls for
[42:43] service in Courtney relative to the
[42:44] third quarter of the previous fiscal
[42:47] year.
[42:48] Uh for the most common call types that
[42:52] we saw, uh it was traffic, unwanted
[42:55] persons, and check well-being that
[42:57] dominated most of our calls for service
[42:58] in this time period. Uh we saw decreases
[43:01] in street level calls for service such
[43:03] as uh uh disturbances, suspicious
[43:06] persons, thefts uh assist, EHS and other
[43:09] agencies.
[43:13] The most common call locations that we
[43:14] uh that we saw was that the provincial
[43:16] courthouse uh again dominated it in
[43:18] terms that we saw a uh 226 file
[43:22] difference uh from the previous year. So
[43:25] we're uh looking at about 126% uh de uh
[43:28] increase. And I've talked about this
[43:30] before in terms of the source of these
[43:32] uh these calls for service mainly stem
[43:34] from administrative investigative files
[43:36] such as failed to appear, breach of
[43:38] probation, breach of conditions as such.
[43:40] Uh because the provincial courthouse is
[43:42] situated within the city of Courtney, uh
[43:45] these files are generated and they are
[43:47] uh investigated by members. So while
[43:50] they may be administrative in nature,
[43:51] there's still a level of component that
[43:53] needs to happen with it in terms of the
[43:56] execution of these uh arrest warrants or
[43:58] these uh conditions uh breach and the
[44:01] paperwork and disclosure that goes with
[44:02] it. Uh in review of these files, it
[44:05] doesn't differ from my previous
[44:06] commentary that the majority of the
[44:09] courthouse files that are generated. If
[44:11] we looked at the origin of offenders,
[44:13] over half come from the Kourtney area
[44:15] while the other remainder are split
[44:18] between uh the CVRD as well as the town
[44:20] of Komox. And then we have our outside
[44:22] influences that come into this area as
[44:24] well. Uh superstore was one of uh our
[44:27] bigger ones where we continually get
[44:29] theft of uh shoplifting complaints from
[44:31] there. But a lot of these uh complaints
[44:33] are resolved through the restorative
[44:35] justice and not necessarily through
[44:36] charges. And we have a really good
[44:38] partner with the Superstore loss
[44:39] prevention as well as a lot of our box
[44:41] stores in terms of using this avenue as
[44:43] a means to resolve files before they
[44:45] actually go to the uh to any sort of uh
[44:48] groundup supported charges. Uh the
[44:50] connect warming center uh we did see uh
[44:53] an increase in in activi or sorry a
[44:56] decrease in uh activity from here. uh if
[44:59] we uh go from last year to this year,
[45:02] however, there uh comparative over
[45:05] years, we've actually seen a steady uh
[45:08] steady decrease in uh in this uh in this
[45:11] area. Uh I know this is prevalent to a
[45:13] lot of business owners as such to know
[45:15] and understand the activities that
[45:16] surround the connect warming center and
[45:18] I engage with uh CEO Garbet on this
[45:20] regularly as well as any other business
[45:22] owners that have any concerns. I've
[45:23] shared uh similar data with them to show
[45:25] the policing efforts and enforcement
[45:27] efforts that we're doing as well as the
[45:28] patrol activities that we're doing in
[45:30] these areas. Um we saw a uh 114%
[45:34] increase at the junction which pertained
[45:36] mainly to uh missing persons complaints,
[45:39] theft of property and unwanted persons
[45:41] as well.
[45:43] uh
[45:44] we did see a change in data entry uh for
[45:48] uh Courtney this year in which you can
[45:51] see there is unspecified location where
[45:54] there is a 1300 over 1300% increase in
[45:57] this category. What this is is we
[46:00] changed our way of scoring in terms of
[46:02] certain locations. uh if we get a
[46:04] complaint where we don't have a specific
[46:06] location with Courtney, if it's just
[46:08] called in, it's often referred to as
[46:10] just Courtney, BC. So that's how it's
[46:13] correlating to the data that you're
[46:14] seeing here is that we don't actually
[46:16] have a specific area, but it's just
[46:18] assigned to the geographic area. If
[46:21] there are questions from council on
[46:22] that, uh I can take that at the end of
[46:24] the presentation and then I source that
[46:26] back with my analyst if they want a
[46:28] little bit more uh context to that uh
[46:30] that change in data point. and and we
[46:32] might have a slightly different
[46:34] presentation in our um escribe because I
[46:37] I see wildly different numbers. So I
[46:39] don't know if um
[46:40] >> and that might be the difference in
[46:42] » and that might be the difference in
[46:42] presentation slide decks. Originally I'd
[46:43] given this one uh and then I followed up
[46:46] with a third from a third quarter to
[46:48] second quarter. So right that's why I
[46:51] also have a difference of data. So, so
[46:53] for those thousands of people that are
[46:55] following us online and using that that
[46:57] one they they might uh see there might
[46:59] be a bit of different thanks.
[47:00] >> It might it might be helpful if if both
[47:02] » It might it might be helpful if if both
[47:02] are provided uh to the to the public
[47:04] after this presentation so they can see
[47:06] the difference. If they just want to
[47:07] follow on the screen along we can just
[47:08] go from uh the comparative years and
[47:11] then uh we can provide more drilled down
[47:13] data through the other slide deck on the
[47:14] on the third quarter. So thank you your
[47:16] worship for appreciate it.
[47:17] >> I saw a lot of confused faces and
[47:19] » I saw a lot of confused faces and
[47:19] mumbling over that. [laughter]
[47:22] Yeah.
[47:24] >> Um so for downtown calls for service uh
[47:28] » Um so for downtown calls for service uh
[47:28] there was a a large increase in breach
[47:31] uh that we saw uh 141% approximately 230
[47:35] files. Uh so again that was uh
[47:38] associated to the courthouse and
[47:40] probation area that that I discussed
[47:41] earlier. Uh unwanted persons saw a uh
[47:45] 22% decrease or a negative 133 file
[47:49] difference. uh violent crime. Uh we saw
[47:52] uh a 2% increase in violent crime
[47:55] relative to 2024. Uh higher numbers of
[47:59] harassment calls for service in which
[48:01] there was a 22% increase from uh 2024 or
[48:04] approximately a 38 file difference. Uh
[48:07] we did see minor drops in uh threats and
[48:10] sex offenses, robbery, homicide, arson
[48:13] uh but a slight increase in assault and
[48:15] forceful confinement.
[48:18] As uh I've talked about before, when it
[48:20] comes to the heat map, we find most of
[48:22] our uh calls for service, whether
[48:24] they're uh violent crime or property
[48:26] crime to be focused in the more dense or
[48:28] populated areas uh where we find that
[48:30] the most tra uh traffic is vehicle or
[48:33] human uh or where we have residential
[48:35] areas or uh condensed businesses as
[48:37] such. So this is consistent in terms of
[48:39] the East Courtney and downtown areas
[48:41] where we see uh the more uh inflamed
[48:44] part of the the heat map to show the uh
[48:46] the high percentages of of calls for
[48:48] these uh
[48:50] in these locations.
[48:54] With respect to property crime, we saw a
[48:57] 1% increase in property crime or
[48:59] approximately 19 file diff difference
[49:01] relative to 2024. Uh driven uh by about
[49:05] a 232% increase in mischief. So about a
[49:08] 44 file difference. We saw a drop in
[49:12] break and enters and petty offenses as
[49:14] well as theft of bike and shoplifting uh
[49:16] comparative to the 2024 year.
[49:22] Again, with the violent crime as in the
[49:24] property crime, the same sort of areas
[49:26] that are being highlighted here as far
[49:27] as the majority of calls for service
[49:31] uh with respect to the Controlled drugs
[49:32] and substance act in the in the third
[49:34] quarter of uh of the 2025 2026 fiscal
[49:37] year, there was an 83% or 25 uh 20 file
[49:41] increase in drug trafficking files
[49:43] relative to the previous fiscal year.
[49:45] This increase was attributable to
[49:46] enforcement initiatives rather than a
[49:48] rise in the incidence of drug
[49:50] trafficking. uh we did see a drop in
[49:52] drug possession which has always been
[49:54] our focus within the detachment and
[49:56] especially when we have uh
[49:57] decriminalization that uh that has
[49:59] expired. Uh I want to relay uh my
[50:04] thoughts as a commander is that our
[50:05] focus is not going to be shifting. It's
[50:07] going to be on the serious uh crimes
[50:09] when it comes to associated to drugs
[50:11] such as drug trafficking and drug uh uh
[50:13] production. The 83% increase that we're
[50:16] seeing uh largely is attributable to uh
[50:21] uh a transfer of an individual that came
[50:23] into our detachment who has a very keen
[50:26] sense of eye and sense of smell for uh
[50:28] for these type of activities and has uh
[50:31] been made quite an impact actually
[50:33] within uh the downtown court area as
[50:36] well as the surrounding areas. We've
[50:37] executed a number of search warrants. So
[50:38] we're very uh thankful to have this
[50:40] person with his knowledge and his
[50:41] experience to bring in to add on to the
[50:43] existing that we already have. So this
[50:45] is the benefits of of having that
[50:47] individual.
[50:49] >> Uh with respect to traffic, we've uh saw
[50:52] » Uh with respect to traffic, we've uh saw
[50:52] a 475% increase in dangerous uh driving
[50:55] or a 19 file uh difference with that. Uh
[50:59] now I don't actually have numbers to
[51:01] support if those were just calls that
[51:03] were uh that uh we responded to or if
[51:06] that also led to charges. I am curious
[51:08] about the impact as far as what we're
[51:10] making in terms of impaired driving. We
[51:12] do have a couple members within our
[51:14] detachment uh that uh receive uh
[51:17] recognition every year for the amount of
[51:19] impaired uh uh drivers that they've
[51:21] removed from the roadway. Um and we just
[51:24] got a recent transfer in which he's also
[51:26] been celebrated for the same stuff. So,
[51:27] we're um I I think when it comes to
[51:29] traffic uh offenses, we're we're getting
[51:32] better uh at it in terms of our uh
[51:34] proactive enforcement. uh we make it a a
[51:37] an annual priority uh to have our
[51:40] watches uh commit to uh stopping traffic
[51:44] violators as opposed to just responding
[51:46] calls and being proactively on the road.
[51:48] We're also seeing an introduction of uh
[51:50] a new traffic member that's going to be
[51:52] coming from the Siri uh detachment. Uh
[51:54] so we will be able to have uh three in
[51:57] our uh fourman unit uh operational
[52:00] hopefully within the next 90 to 120
[52:02] days. So, it will even improve our our
[52:04] traffic uh uh numbers.
[52:08] » That is not mine. Uh I'm more than happy
[52:11] to take confusing questions regarding
[52:13] the information that's been provided in
[52:15] front of you as opposed to the
[52:16] information that I presented on. Um
[52:18] three things that I just wanted to to
[52:20] get out there uh ahead of any sort of
[52:23] questions is some of the events that we
[52:25] uh that we did this uh this past
[52:26] quarter. Uh I felt that we were fairly
[52:28] impactful in terms of uh our community
[52:31] uh involvement. Uh we hosted our haunted
[52:35] cells event uh back in October uh that
[52:37] saw over 900 plus people visit our
[52:40] detachment uh throughout the course of
[52:42] the three-hour period. Uh this was also
[52:44] in part and parcel of trying to uh raise
[52:47] awareness and funds for some of our uh
[52:49] community partners such as our local
[52:51] search and rescue. Uh we were able to
[52:53] raise over $3,600 in funds for uh uh
[52:56] search and rescue and approximately
[52:58] $1,300 in food donations for uh uh the
[53:02] Salvation Army that was also a community
[53:04] partner on this whole thing. Uh the
[53:06] feedback on this particular event has
[53:08] been wildly uh uh positive. Um I
[53:11] personally greeted every person that
[53:13] came into the into the cells on that
[53:15] night and uh had conversations and
[53:17] dialogue with them. I was amazed by the
[53:19] uh number of First Canadians that uh
[53:21] that were coming through uh the the
[53:24] conversations uh that we discussed where
[53:26] they were um mystified by the fact that
[53:30] police would do something like this
[53:32] considering from some of the countries
[53:34] that they come from originally. Uh they
[53:36] have a very different take on on police
[53:38] officers. Uh some come from more
[53:41] authoritative uh regions where they
[53:43] don't see this side of policing. So it
[53:45] was it was rewarding in that sense. also
[53:47] uh our youth uh that managed to come
[53:50] through uh high-risisk youth that uh uh
[53:54] they were laughing and and sharing some
[53:57] of the stories that they may have had in
[53:59] those particular cells with their
[54:00] friends. But the the commentary that
[54:03] I've been able to receive from probation
[54:04] as well as from mental health
[54:06] professionals uh have said that uh they
[54:09] were talking about this weeks after in
[54:11] terms of the positive impact that that
[54:13] this had as far as how cool uh such an
[54:15] event was hosted and they're looking
[54:17] forward to doing it next year. Don't
[54:19] know if that's going to happen. I might
[54:21] need to convince uh higherups to uh to
[54:23] allow us to do something like this
[54:25] again. Uh but uh both from an attachment
[54:27] perspective and a community side, we saw
[54:29] an incredible amount of smiles and uh
[54:32] and people appreciating the efforts that
[54:33] were put forward and just a kudos to my
[54:35] staff for making the effort because it
[54:37] was all in volunteer time that they did
[54:39] this and they're all volunteers that
[54:40] participated in it. Uh on top of that,
[54:43] we had our uh uh we had the Wounded
[54:45] Warriors uh charity hockey game. While
[54:47] the RCMP doesn't uh put this on itself,
[54:51] uh Sergeant Rob Brennan takes a leading
[54:53] role in both planning and organizing
[54:54] this event. This is very personal to him
[54:57] uh as a as a first responder to raise
[54:59] awareness and funds. Uh the game against
[55:01] the Glacier Kings brought in over
[55:03] approximately $40,000 in funds uh for uh
[55:07] uh to uh to their cause uh and a
[55:09] combined total of 80,000 uh towards uh
[55:12] their initiative. Uh in addition to uh
[55:16] to that hockey game, uh myself and uh
[55:18] members in the detachment hosted a
[55:21] charity hockey game with the U15 North
[55:23] Island Tier 1 uh Bears uh minor hockey
[55:25] team in which they played against our
[55:28] detachment recreation team. Uh also a
[55:31] toy drive to raise toys for uh for uh
[55:34] persons uh in and families in need uh
[55:36] during the holiday season. So it was a
[55:38] well attended event and enjoyed by uh by
[55:41] all the kids that went to it as well.
[55:43] But now I'll defer to to questions from
[55:45] the floor after I pump my own tires. So
[55:47] >> Sure. Well, well, since you uh I know I
[55:49] » Sure. Well, well, since you uh I know I
[55:49] got a couple of of uh questions here um
[55:52] waiting, but since you were meandering
[55:54] off a little bit uh uh from the uh the
[55:56] presentation, maybe the first question
[55:58] I'll I'll ask about uh just because
[56:00] there's a very recent article on the uh
[56:03] potential new detachment uh building and
[56:06] um and it's been something that has been
[56:09] uh talked about since I've been on
[56:10] council the last 11 years and I know
[56:13] we're actually supposed to do a tour of
[56:15] North Cow in um Uh, I was supposed to go
[56:18] there about a week or two ago and then
[56:20] realized the other mayors weren't
[56:21] invited, so we got them invited. So,
[56:23] we're all going to be going down there.
[56:25] Um, cuz they've got a fairly similar
[56:28] size um uh area. Um, but uh the time
[56:32] that I've been on council, the the the
[56:35] holdup seems to be waiting for reports
[56:37] and things from sort of the higher ups
[56:40] in the RCMP. And so just wondering if
[56:42] those are um
[56:45] >> I I'd say that uh generating the
[56:47] » I I'd say that uh generating the
[56:48] conversation and getting everyone in the
[56:49] same room to uh understand what we're
[56:52] asking for and what we're looking for
[56:54] and uh the demonstrated interest from
[56:55] all the contributing municipal partners
[56:57] I think is key before we start
[56:59] initiating. It started off with the KFN
[57:01] with their letter of support. I I didn't
[57:04] make it a secret as far as that was my
[57:05] intention with all the municipal uh
[57:08] councils here and I'm just starting to
[57:10] get my legs underneath me right now that
[57:12] I'm going to make this a big push and
[57:14] priority for this particular year uh now
[57:16] that I have some free time to to pursue
[57:18] it. Uh I had a a collaborative
[57:20] discussion with the village of
[57:21] Cumberland that while they're not a
[57:22] contributing mimal partner, they will be
[57:25] in the near future and someone that
[57:27] should probably have some dialogue to it
[57:28] as far as getting a letter of support.
[57:30] My focus has always been to have a
[57:33] conversation both with the town of Komox
[57:35] and the city of Courtney and bring
[57:36] people in that room and discuss what our
[57:38] intentions are going to be, formalize it
[57:40] and then put it towards uh the RCMP as
[57:42] well as the public safety minister. Uh
[57:44] and then we would look at maybe again uh
[57:47] at a later time forming a committee to
[57:49] generate to show demonstrate that that
[57:52] seriousness and interest in in build.
[57:53] And I think once we start looking
[57:54] towards forming that that committee,
[57:57] then the people from my senior ranks
[57:59] will start to get involved and tell you
[58:01] what steps are needed, what options are
[58:04] available to you and what we can start
[58:05] doing to plan for that that new
[58:07] detachment.
[58:08] >> Okay. Excellent. Yeah, because I know
[58:09] » Okay. Excellent. Yeah, because I know
[58:09] it's been it feels like from my side
[58:11] that it we've been asking, but we've
[58:13] been kind of just waiting on on some of
[58:15] these studying stuff. But um the the
[58:17] second question I had was just since
[58:19] we're doing this tour, it may be uh a
[58:21] potential I'm not sure if you'd be
[58:22] interested in coming along, but
[58:24] >> yeah, I I I would love to to go down to
[58:26] » yeah, I I I would love to to go down to
[58:26] uh to Duncan. Uh Staff Sergeant Beard is
[58:28] a great commander there, and I'm sure
[58:29] he'd be more than hospitable to to have
[58:31] us there. Uh, one thing I did fail to
[58:34] mention, sorry, I know we talked about
[58:35] the new detachment. There was also a
[58:36] news release on the uh, uh, mobile
[58:40] integrated uh, crisis response uh, unit
[58:42] or the microcar or our car 64 uh, which
[58:45] has been uh, it came at the uh, in
[58:49] September. We uh we initiated the the
[58:51] pilot initiative uh and uh we decided to
[58:54] finally formally announce it yesterday
[58:56] and the impact so far for the past
[58:59] several months has been really positive
[59:01] within the community uh as far as uh
[59:03] what we're seeing in terms of
[59:04] relationship building and usage.
[59:07] >> Awesome. No, really appreciate that. Uh
[59:09] » Awesome. No, really appreciate that. Uh
[59:09] Mr. Carbid, um I know there's questions
[59:11] from elected officials, so I'll be very
[59:13] quick. Uh um Island Health staff had
[59:16] reached out. uh council had asked for a
[59:19] presentation about the outcomes of that
[59:21] and so uh Leslie Howy from Island Health
[59:24] and I think with Inspector Mercer there
[59:26] is an expectation from council to
[59:28] actually have a presentation on the
[59:30] outcomes of that pilot. So stay tuned.
[59:32] We'll try and do that as quick as
[59:33] possible.
[59:34] >> Fantastic. Really appreciate it. Uh
[59:35] » Fantastic. Really appreciate it. Uh
[59:35] thanks council for humoring me and I'll
[59:37] pass over to councelor Hillian.
[59:39] >> Thanks mayor and thanks for being here
[59:41] » Thanks mayor and thanks for being here
[59:41] inspector. Congratulations on your
[59:43] Halloween event. And I did drive by the
[59:45] detachment that night and wondered what
[59:47] was going on. But uh I spent quite a bit
[59:49] of time in those cells in my former
[59:51] life. So I had no wish to come and visit
[59:53] and see. Um I did want to ask two two
[59:55] questions. Uh one related to your stats.
[59:58] Um
[1:00:00] and I just wanted to clarify when we see
[1:00:02] a large increase uh um say breaches for
[1:00:06] example, do those represent distinct
[1:00:10] um files or actual counts?
[1:00:13] The point I'm getting at is you could
[1:00:14] have an individual who has multiple
[1:00:16] counts,
[1:00:17] >> right?
[1:00:17] » right?
[1:00:17] >> And [snorts] so a large number, it may
[1:00:19] » And [snorts] so a large number, it may
[1:00:19] not reflect that number of people, it
[1:00:21] may somebody who's been on a spree or
[1:00:23] whatever would inflate those numbers.
[1:00:26] >> Yeah, it it's a great question and let
[1:00:28] » Yeah, it it's a great question and let
[1:00:28] me bring that back to both my uh records
[1:00:31] person and my analyst to see if the data
[1:00:33] is drawn specifically based on the
[1:00:35] number of charges or actual identified
[1:00:37] persons that are being charged
[1:00:38] separately.
[1:00:39] >> Thanks. Um, the other thing I wanted to
[1:00:41] » Thanks. Um, the other thing I wanted to
[1:00:41] ask about and and I wanted to thank you
[1:00:43] for your efforts in enforcement on Back
[1:00:47] Road, which uh hopefully has eased off
[1:00:50] now that the Dyke Road is open again and
[1:00:52] there isn't the same pressure. But I
[1:00:54] just wondered if your members are
[1:00:56] noticing any difference um related to
[1:00:59] the lower speed limits in residential
[1:01:02] neighborhoods that have come into effect
[1:01:03] in the last few months. Crony,
[1:01:05] >> I I I think when when it was first
[1:01:07] » I I I think when when it was first
[1:01:07] introduced as well as the uh
[1:01:09] trafficcoming uh efforts, we we were
[1:01:12] getting feedback from the community
[1:01:13] mostly in terms of reporting persons
[1:01:16] that are violating those those or
[1:01:18] believe to be violating those violations
[1:01:20] or that aren't respecting the uh the
[1:01:22] calming uh pattern that's putting in
[1:01:24] there. uh back road has always been a a
[1:01:28] point of interest of me uh when when I
[1:01:30] first came here as I' I've spoken to
[1:01:31] before. I haven't had anything come up
[1:01:33] to my attention in the recent months.
[1:01:35] That's not to say that the existing
[1:01:36] problems still don't happen or if the
[1:01:39] current efforts are making a difference.
[1:01:40] Uh we have continued to increase our
[1:01:43] patrols within that area. Nothing has
[1:01:45] been reported up to me as far as uh
[1:01:47] additional complaints. Uh but uh yeah, I
[1:01:51] think it was certainly more noticeable
[1:01:53] during the point where uh certain roads
[1:01:55] were closed down and detourred and the
[1:01:57] amount of traffic that was being down
[1:01:58] there. So it's not surprising that with
[1:01:59] roads being opened up on Comox Avenue
[1:02:02] and such that probably the uh the amount
[1:02:05] of uh traffic that was going through
[1:02:06] there has probably dissipated a little
[1:02:08] bit.
[1:02:09] >> Yeah. All right. Thanks, Councelor and
[1:02:12] » Yeah. All right. Thanks, Councelor and
[1:02:12] Councelor Cole Hamilton.
[1:02:13] >> Yeah, thanks Marin. thanks for uh
[1:02:15] » Yeah, thanks Marin. thanks for uh
[1:02:15] sharing these details about about uh the
[1:02:18] community with us. I I um I wanted to go
[1:02:21] to the breach um question. I think every
[1:02:24] time we all have to kind of mentally
[1:02:26] remove that from the stats to some
[1:02:29] degree because uh the breach all occurs
[1:02:32] at the courthouse and it's not so much a
[1:02:35] crime in the way that most people think
[1:02:37] of crime. It's a it's um I don't know
[1:02:40] it's a state of someone being in a
[1:02:41] violation of the law and it's an
[1:02:43] administrative part of the the legal
[1:02:45] system. Would it be possible in in
[1:02:47] future would it make sense to to remove
[1:02:51] the produce of figures for us that
[1:02:53] removed the breach aspect and the
[1:02:56] courthouse as a location given that
[1:02:59] they're qualitatively different than
[1:03:00] everything else we're talking about. And
[1:03:02] when there's a you know a big increase
[1:03:04] in the breach it it excuse the figures
[1:03:08] and as an example I think that there was
[1:03:10] a 2% reduction in total calls last year
[1:03:12] >> right
[1:03:13] » right
[1:03:13] >> if you take remove breach from that then
[1:03:15] » if you take remove breach from that then
[1:03:15] it's four almost 5% reduction which is a
[1:03:18] fair difference
[1:03:19] >> I was just having a conversation with my
[1:03:20] » I was just having a conversation with my
[1:03:20] analyst today as far as what do we want
[1:03:23] the quarterly reports to look like
[1:03:26] moving forward and that and I think
[1:03:28] that's a conversation that I can have
[1:03:30] through the CEOs and through councils as
[1:03:32] far as what you would like to see
[1:03:33] represented in that data. It's not
[1:03:35] playing funny with the numbers, but I
[1:03:36] agree with you. I think that uh if there
[1:03:39] is a potential impact as far as the
[1:03:41] overall uh general feeling of safety uh
[1:03:44] in a in a community that something like
[1:03:46] this might uh lead it in a in a
[1:03:49] different direction. So, uh I think
[1:03:51] separating it from it is maybe something
[1:03:53] prudent to ask. And I can I can show uh
[1:03:56] the results of one report versus another
[1:03:58] uh on that too just to show the
[1:04:00] distinctive difference if that's
[1:04:01] something that council wishes for the
[1:04:02] future.
[1:04:03] >> That would be great. Mayor, can I just
[1:04:05] » That would be great. Mayor, can I just
[1:04:05] follow up? Yeah, brief followup. I was
[1:04:07] saying if if that is the case and that
[1:04:09] it really does make sense. They're
[1:04:10] qualitatively just different kinds of
[1:04:12] things um than community sort of uh law
[1:04:15] enforcement. And I'm looking at the uh
[1:04:18] the top 10 categories of of file types.
[1:04:21] And if one removes breach as we're just
[1:04:23] discussing then there's one that
[1:04:26] increased which was traffic incidents
[1:04:28] and councelor Helian's questions like
[1:04:32] kind of illuminated some of that but
[1:04:34] every other metric uh eight of them went
[1:04:37] down in one state the same and I think a
[1:04:39] lot of them seem to speak to um
[1:04:41] successfully addressing people's
[1:04:43] concerns about street disorder. I know
[1:04:44] that's something you've been working on.
[1:04:46] Things like unwanted person being down
[1:04:48] 11%, check well being down 11%,
[1:04:51] disturbance down 5%, suspicious
[1:04:53] circumstances down 4%, uh theft is down,
[1:04:57] and then assisting other services, which
[1:04:59] I imagine was a function of of overdoses
[1:05:02] and other um crisis. It it does seem to
[1:05:06] speak to um a consistent trend in
[1:05:10] managing those types of uh street
[1:05:12] disorder that people found challenging.
[1:05:14] >> It represents a positive trend. Whether
[1:05:16] » It represents a positive trend. Whether
[1:05:16] it consistently
[1:05:18] >> keeps going down in that direction is is
[1:05:20] » keeps going down in that direction is is
[1:05:20] always something that we we kind of
[1:05:21] monitor for the next quarter. And and uh
[1:05:24] I think
[1:05:25] >> when we look at the total calls for
[1:05:27] » when we look at the total calls for
[1:05:27] service for Courtney, we have seen less
[1:05:29] calls for service this year than in the
[1:05:31] previous year. Um and but this quarter
[1:05:35] in of itself, the third quarter uh was
[1:05:38] higher in some in some regards. So it it
[1:05:40] it goes up and down and it fluctuates.
[1:05:42] And I and I optimistically am cautious
[1:05:44] on on these trends when we see that. I
[1:05:46] mean it's certainly rewarding to see
[1:05:48] those key categories that are typically
[1:05:50] problematic and and dominate a lot of
[1:05:52] our calls for service start to trend
[1:05:54] down uh in that area. And then we always
[1:05:56] look to how we can pat ourselves on the
[1:05:58] back as to how that you know what caused
[1:06:00] that and whether it was you know some
[1:06:02] sort of enforcement change or some sort
[1:06:03] of police strategy or something else
[1:06:05] that that might have been a driver. So
[1:06:07] uh I I think it's a relevant point and
[1:06:09] something that uh you know hopefully
[1:06:11] we'll see in the next the final quarter
[1:06:13] uh the same sort of drop in it when we
[1:06:15] go from fourth quarter to third quarter
[1:06:17] as well. Well,
[1:06:17] >> it's an encouraging trend. It's good to
[1:06:19] » it's an encouraging trend. It's good to
[1:06:19] hear that you're actively analyzing
[1:06:21] what's causing that and so as to
[1:06:23] continue it. Yeah. Thanks very much.
[1:06:26] >> Thanks very much, uh, Councelor Cole
[1:06:28] » Thanks very much, uh, Councelor Cole
[1:06:28] Hamilton and Council Moore.
[1:06:29] >> Great. Thanks, Mayor. I have a couple
[1:06:31] » Great. Thanks, Mayor. I have a couple
[1:06:31] questions. We'll see if I can fit them
[1:06:32] all in. Um, thanks so much for the
[1:06:35] report. Um, so I noted that there were
[1:06:37] 36 calls at a private residence. Um, are
[1:06:40] you able to say whether is that a mental
[1:06:43] health related situation or
[1:06:46] >> maybe you're not able to share too much?
[1:06:47] » maybe you're not able to share too much?
[1:06:47] >> I I can't share too much about that. Um,
[1:06:50] » I I can't share too much about that. Um,
[1:06:50] Cumberland had a very similar type of
[1:06:52] thing where there was like an inflated
[1:06:53] call volume around a particular
[1:06:55] residence and that was uh a youth
[1:06:57] related thing. It wasn't a care home or
[1:06:59] anything, but it was just sometimes we
[1:07:02] find that we get called to events that
[1:07:04] don't necessarily require police
[1:07:06] attendance, right? And uh you know I
[1:07:09] know in in in a different jurisdiction
[1:07:10] we get called there's a residence that
[1:07:12] it shows like it it spiked up uh there
[1:07:15] but that was more health related because
[1:07:17] EHS requires us to stage to go into that
[1:07:21] house. It's not really a police matter
[1:07:23] right but we're there just to keep the
[1:07:25] peace. So, I mean there is that that
[1:07:27] element to it and I can look at this
[1:07:29] particular residence council MREN and
[1:07:32] get back to you on it if it is again I
[1:07:34] don't have to reveal the the the details
[1:07:36] of it but I can tell you the context as
[1:07:38] to which and why we're responding
[1:07:40] because when I do see specific
[1:07:41] residences like this that go up me as a
[1:07:44] commander and from a former operations
[1:07:46] per person is I don't like seeing that.
[1:07:48] I don't like seeing why we're spending a
[1:07:51] considerable amount of police resources
[1:07:52] on one particular residence and I try
[1:07:54] and look at ways to mitigate that
[1:07:56] whether it's to form better
[1:07:57] relationships with the appropriate
[1:07:58] agency or community supports that are
[1:08:00] better to step in or have some dialogue
[1:08:03] with those managers to say like this
[1:08:05] isn't working for us. We can't always
[1:08:06] just be there because you guys like to
[1:08:08] have us in your back pocket, right? So,
[1:08:11] uh and it doesn't do anything to mend
[1:08:12] any relationships with that person in
[1:08:14] the house either if they see the police
[1:08:15] behind them too. So, uh, I think it's a
[1:08:18] point of interest and and one that I can
[1:08:19] bring back and and probably get a
[1:08:21] better, uh, some better information for
[1:08:22] you on.
[1:08:23] >> Yeah. No, I mean, I know it's come up in
[1:08:25] » Yeah. No, I mean, I know it's come up in
[1:08:25] the past where we've had certain
[1:08:26] locations that have had a lot of calls
[1:08:28] and so I was happy to see that, um, the
[1:08:31] announcement around the mobile
[1:08:33] integrated crisis response unit. Um
[1:08:37] uh and yeah, you know, not to put a
[1:08:39] downer on it, but on social media there
[1:08:41] there were some comments kind of making
[1:08:44] it sound like it's fluff or it's not
[1:08:46] meaningful because these kinds of
[1:08:48] programs don't have the quantitative or
[1:08:51] sorry the the um you know the numbers
[1:08:55] backing them. They're experiences that
[1:08:57] create change and that happens over
[1:08:59] time. Um but I think those of us who you
[1:09:04] know have worked in the field of u
[1:09:08] working with these complex issues you
[1:09:10] know that those changes do often happen
[1:09:12] and it comes from relationship which is
[1:09:15] a lot of what that program is all about.
[1:09:17] So in some of our early reporting that
[1:09:19] we were seeing and this is why we talk
[1:09:21] about how trends go up and down and we
[1:09:23] have to be cautiously optimistic is that
[1:09:25] what we were seeing within the first
[1:09:27] month and a bit of uh of mic her
[1:09:29] introduced to uh to to Courtney we were
[1:09:32] seeing a down tick in in violence
[1:09:34] related calls for service. I'm getting
[1:09:37] excited thinking like, hey, is this
[1:09:38] maybe because people are getting the
[1:09:40] appropriate supports? They're getting
[1:09:41] connected to their uh their treatment
[1:09:43] teams. We're introducing something early
[1:09:45] on so that they're not spiking or
[1:09:46] escalating to a point of crisis where
[1:09:49] someone gets hurt or harmed, right? Uh
[1:09:51] we did see that number go up a little
[1:09:53] bit up again, but then again, it started
[1:09:55] to go down. So, I mean, is it a driving
[1:09:58] uh you know, reason as to why? No. But I
[1:10:00] mean I always look at it if that unit
[1:10:03] wasn't available the data would read
[1:10:06] differently right and we know that from
[1:10:08] our experiences dealing when with people
[1:10:11] in that have mental health crisis
[1:10:12] sometimes they escalate to a point where
[1:10:14] violence is involved right and that's
[1:10:16] when we get get uh get incorporated into
[1:10:18] the problem so uh I I think I feel more
[1:10:22] assured knowing that I have a trained
[1:10:25] registered psychiatric nurse that has
[1:10:27] the ability to assess people rather than
[1:10:29] one of my officers on the street and
[1:10:31] that is just it's really rewarding to
[1:10:33] have that opportunity right now.
[1:10:34] >> Yeah. No, I'm just um I'm hoping that um
[1:10:37] » Yeah. No, I'm just um I'm hoping that um
[1:10:37] the powers at Bweather through Island
[1:10:39] Health and um and your um organization
[1:10:43] are able to tease out some of that
[1:10:45] because I I believe that that that data
[1:10:49] is is there, but it's just harder to
[1:10:51] kind of tease it out. It's not like we
[1:10:53] can do a report of oh we paved this many
[1:10:56] we repaved you know this many kilometers
[1:10:58] of road like those kind of um impacts
[1:11:00] are just not easy to measure but um yeah
[1:11:04] so I hope people will just be patient
[1:11:05] and and allow this program to you know
[1:11:08] to to flourish and
[1:11:10] >> for sure
[1:11:10] » for sure
[1:11:10] >> and uh continue on but uh oh one last
[1:11:15] » and uh continue on but uh oh one last
[1:11:15] question was around I thought we had had
[1:11:18] in our charts previously
[1:11:21] um I don't know if it was under domestic
[1:11:25] um incidents or intimate partner
[1:11:27] violence. I thought we had that at one
[1:11:29] point. Um I was just curious around
[1:11:31] that. I know um what the trends that
[1:11:36] we're seeing just because sadly we've
[1:11:38] had, you know, very high-profile
[1:11:41] incident with um
[1:11:43] >> with a woman who was killed by a partner
[1:11:45] » with a woman who was killed by a partner
[1:11:45] who had done all the right things. And
[1:11:47] so it was just it's always something
[1:11:49] that's on my mind in terms of um
[1:11:52] primarily women experiencing violence
[1:11:54] and
[1:11:55] >> I think I think that's a a valid thing
[1:11:58] » I think I think that's a a valid thing
[1:11:58] to have in in reports. Uh, I always find
[1:12:01] that when it comes to sexual offenses
[1:12:03] and intimate violence and that that they
[1:12:05] need to be they have to have their
[1:12:07] special category represented in some
[1:12:08] sort of reporting because
[1:12:10] >> those are the ones like you said that
[1:12:11] » those are the ones like you said that
[1:12:11] always catch the headlines that always
[1:12:14] you always wonder what could have been
[1:12:16] done, where was the trends, what were
[1:12:17] police doing and uh we do have a special
[1:12:20] victim's unit that focus primarily on
[1:12:23] those type of uh offenses. So I think uh
[1:12:26] moving forward that's something that I
[1:12:27] can bring to my analyst and then tease
[1:12:29] that out uh so that it's something for
[1:12:30] you guys to consume and ask questions on
[1:12:32] later as well.
[1:12:34] >> Great. Thank you.
[1:12:36] » Great. Thank you.
[1:12:36] >> Excellent. Thanks very much uh councelor
[1:12:38] » Excellent. Thanks very much uh councelor
[1:12:38] MREN and uh I don't see any further
[1:12:40] questions. Um oh uh Mr. Carver
[1:12:44] thank you through the mayor. I wanted
[1:12:45] the our elected officials to be able to
[1:12:46] answer questions. I I can say that uh to
[1:12:49] your to your um comments, councelor Cole
[1:12:51] Hamilton, I've spoken with Inspector
[1:12:53] Mercer about breach. Uh and I can let
[1:12:56] council know that all of the local
[1:12:58] governments on Vancost provincial
[1:13:00] courouses are are questioning this
[1:13:03] statistic. It does show up in the uh
[1:13:06] crime severity index report. Um so the
[1:13:09] uh city manager of Duncan uh Port
[1:13:12] Alurnie and myself have talked about
[1:13:13] this. We've had a roundabout
[1:13:15] conversation in Campbell River as well.
[1:13:17] It is I agree uh a special category and
[1:13:20] when it's not factored into our uh stats
[1:13:23] there are very good news and the work
[1:13:25] that our uh RCMP partners are doing is
[1:13:28] very good. So I I actually feel that
[1:13:31] like this is something that needs
[1:13:33] attention because it is a special
[1:13:34] category. I 100% agree and talked to
[1:13:37] Inspector Mercer about that and I'm glad
[1:13:38] that he's pulling that statistic out.
[1:13:40] It's just when you look at that report,
[1:13:43] that provincial index, it it tells a
[1:13:46] story that is not a complete one. So, I
[1:13:48] think we need to remain focused on that.
[1:13:49] And thank you for raising that,
[1:13:50] counselor.
[1:13:53] >> Yeah. And and also there's a a financial
[1:13:55] » Yeah. And and also there's a a financial
[1:13:55] implication there when we're talking
[1:13:56] about, you know, Cumberland paying more
[1:13:58] and Komox and city of Courtney. And this
[1:14:01] is something that, you know, is uh quite
[1:14:04] specifically provincial courthouse. So,
[1:14:06] uh um oh pass it over to council.
[1:14:11] >> Yeah, thanks Mayor. Well, I generally
[1:14:13] » Yeah, thanks Mayor. Well, I generally
[1:14:13] agree with uh with that approach. Um I
[1:14:16] think uh we shouldn't lose sight of the
[1:14:18] fact that um breaches are are valuable
[1:14:21] work that our police officers do and and
[1:14:24] this these reports are partly a
[1:14:26] reflection of of police work. Um,
[1:14:29] sometimes it's interesting to note the
[1:14:32] distinction between breaches that
[1:14:34] involve minor offenders, um, people who
[1:14:37] maybe didn't show up for an appointment
[1:14:38] and and more significant offenders who
[1:14:40] may have violated a no contact order,
[1:14:43] um, with a victim or any number of
[1:14:45] things. So um I would suggest rather
[1:14:48] than being entirely removed from the
[1:14:50] report, it simply be categorized
[1:14:53] separately as a separate issue to
[1:14:55] reflect the work that police are doing
[1:14:57] without necessarily being a reflection
[1:14:59] of uh of crime in the community. I would
[1:15:01] I would ask that that too just for the
[1:15:03] fact that there is a degree like you
[1:15:04] said a degree of work that can't be
[1:15:06] minimized on stuff like this because it
[1:15:08] is essentially hours that are being
[1:15:10] committed elsewhere for while it may be
[1:15:12] an administr administrative offense
[1:15:14] there's leg work and and disclosure that
[1:15:15] needs to be done with it as well.
[1:15:17] >> Yeah. And and I that's how I interpreted
[1:15:18] » Yeah. And and I that's how I interpreted
[1:15:18] what councelor Cole Hamilton meant but
[1:15:20] I'll pass back to him.
[1:15:21] >> Yeah. Thanks very much and I appreciate
[1:15:23] » Yeah. Thanks very much and I appreciate
[1:15:23] the clarification. I certainly wouldn't
[1:15:24] want to lose track of those figures
[1:15:26] because as was being said, it's a an
[1:15:28] important metric of how police time is
[1:15:30] being used and because we happen to have
[1:15:32] a courthouse here, which other
[1:15:34] communities don't. We pay for a certain
[1:15:36] amount of police resources that are used
[1:15:38] for um the administration of the court
[1:15:41] system rather than dealing with what
[1:15:42] most people think about as uh crime in
[1:15:45] our community. Uh so useful to have them
[1:15:48] but useful to be able to look at sort of
[1:15:50] true community based stats that don't uh
[1:15:52] include them. Yeah. Thanks.
[1:15:55] >> Thanks for that clarification. Um with
[1:15:57] » Thanks for that clarification. Um with
[1:15:57] that uh I think we can accept the uh
[1:16:00] report unanimously uh by council and um
[1:16:04] really appreciate uh the the update
[1:16:07] today.
[1:16:07] >> Oh sure.
[1:16:09] » Oh sure.
[1:16:09] >> Yeah.
[1:16:09] » Yeah.
[1:16:09] >> You can ask if you want.
[1:16:11] » You can ask if you want.
[1:16:11] Uh I was I was wondering given that
[1:16:13] there there was mention by the mayor of
[1:16:15] the uh you know the need for uh which
[1:16:18] you've been stating for a new uh
[1:16:21] division headquarters. Um one then
[1:16:24] there's a piece in the CBC today which
[1:16:26] discussing it.
[1:16:28] One thing that I haven't been able to
[1:16:29] find out from asking people is what the
[1:16:31] typical funding formula is for the
[1:16:35] building of a new structure like that.
[1:16:37] uh is there some contribution by um is
[1:16:41] it E division green timbers? Is there a
[1:16:43] contribution by the province by the
[1:16:45] federal government by
[1:16:47] >> and it was a very similar question that
[1:16:48] » and it was a very similar question that
[1:16:48] was posed to me by the village of
[1:16:50] Cumberland as far as what can we expect
[1:16:51] in terms of you know a set standard
[1:16:54] contribution level to so that we can do
[1:16:56] future planning. I think that's step
[1:16:59] four or five down the road. And while
[1:17:00] it's a very important step, it's getting
[1:17:02] the at the interest and the commitment
[1:17:05] factor and then the persons that are
[1:17:06] able to present those options to you
[1:17:08] because it's a series of options. It's
[1:17:10] depending upon what you want for a
[1:17:13] detachment and what we agree on as far
[1:17:16] as a uh an effective policing
[1:17:19] detachment. Currently, we have an
[1:17:20] integrated service where everyone's
[1:17:21] underneath one roof. So, that's
[1:17:23] provincial members as well as municipal
[1:17:25] members. I have a set belief and uh I
[1:17:29] truly do believe that our policing model
[1:17:31] that we have right now is beneficial to
[1:17:33] everyone to the city of Courtney to the
[1:17:35] town of Komox having everyone underneath
[1:17:37] one roof. There may be a consideration
[1:17:40] that may not you might not want to go
[1:17:42] that route and there's different options
[1:17:44] that are that that are potentially
[1:17:46] available before you depending on what
[1:17:48] route you want to want to go as it you
[1:17:50] know it's going to be your detachment
[1:17:52] right your build uh with whoever is
[1:17:54] contributing towards that the amount of
[1:17:57] who prays what is something that will be
[1:18:01] decided in collaboration through the
[1:18:02] committee through OSB and through
[1:18:04] project management when they present
[1:18:06] those options to you and I I think the
[1:18:08] service delivery review that has been uh
[1:18:11] that is going down uh that is happening
[1:18:12] in the background right now will help
[1:18:14] set that foundation to move that
[1:18:16] conversation forward uh because it's
[1:18:19] long been standing that there are
[1:18:20] discrepancies as far as what community
[1:18:22] feels that they should pay for policing
[1:18:24] and what percentage and I'm hoping that
[1:18:27] uh this report will present some data
[1:18:29] that will reflect what is currently
[1:18:33] needed for adequate uh and and effective
[1:18:35] policing. Um that report should be ready
[1:18:39] [clears throat] to present to council in
[1:18:41] some fashion here in the next coming
[1:18:42] months. We set a diary date of April.
[1:18:45] Everything that I have right now is
[1:18:47] indicating that it's on time. I think
[1:18:49] that will also help build uh that
[1:18:52] discussion piece as far as the
[1:18:53] contributions towards the detachment
[1:18:55] because you know whether it's going to
[1:18:57] be Cumberland uh and Komox and and
[1:19:00] Courtney, you need to be able to
[1:19:02] effectively plan through your taxes as
[1:19:04] far as what that uh what that portion is
[1:19:07] going to be that you're going to have to
[1:19:08] fund, right? So, um I don't want to put
[1:19:11] the cart before the horse or speak out
[1:19:13] of turn. I think taking it in small
[1:19:15] steps right now as far as demonstrating
[1:19:17] that intent to build or that letter of
[1:19:19] support, then we can get that committee
[1:19:21] set up to answer those very important
[1:19:23] questions that you're asking right now.
[1:19:25] >> Yeah. Um I mean I can I can I I
[1:19:29] » Yeah. Um I mean I can I can I I
[1:19:29] understand everything you're saying. A
[1:19:30] lot of that makes sense and certainly
[1:19:32] like the question of what this building
[1:19:34] should be and to me to some degree
[1:19:36] that's a question of how big the pie is,
[1:19:38] right? But I think one of the questions
[1:19:39] that local governments would need to
[1:19:41] think about before signing off on a
[1:19:43] letter saying that something should be
[1:19:45] done um is what what portion of the cost
[1:19:49] we would be responsible for covering to
[1:19:51] make sure that you know we're doing our
[1:19:53] due diligence. We're thinking ahead
[1:19:55] >> um because these are significant sums
[1:19:57] » um because these are significant sums
[1:19:57] and uh you know as municipalities we try
[1:20:00] to plan ahead to make sure we're ready
[1:20:02] for them. So right um probably
[1:20:04] >> the sooner the better and like you said
[1:20:06] » the sooner the better and like you said
[1:20:06] it might be step four or five but I
[1:20:07] think perhaps providing a bit more
[1:20:10] information on what sort of range of
[1:20:11] funding might be helpful
[1:20:13] >> maybe up until that point uh if that's
[1:20:16] » maybe up until that point uh if that's
[1:20:16] you know certainly a a critical
[1:20:18] consideration for for this council
[1:20:20] before they commit to a letter I can go
[1:20:22] back to uh division and and maybe get
[1:20:25] some clarification to give you a
[1:20:27] ballpark idea on something like that if
[1:20:29] that if that's better served than just
[1:20:31] me ambiguously making statements here.
[1:20:34] Uh and then we'll we'll see what that
[1:20:36] might generate in terms of
[1:20:38] >> to my mind that seems really helpful to
[1:20:40] » to my mind that seems really helpful to
[1:20:40] get a clearer idea. So, thanks very much
[1:20:41] for that. Yeah.
[1:20:42] >> Okay. Appreciate it.
[1:20:44] » Okay. Appreciate it.
[1:20:44] >> Yeah. Thank thanks councelor uh Cole
[1:20:46] » Yeah. Thank thanks councelor uh Cole
[1:20:46] Hamilton and again uh given the
[1:20:48] conversations that I've had both with
[1:20:50] the other elected mayors here but more
[1:20:52] specifically proincially with our our
[1:20:54] counterparts um uh around this topic. We
[1:21:00] feel that I I definitely feel like we've
[1:21:02] been definitely saying like this is
[1:21:03] something that needs to happen. So it
[1:21:05] it's uh I'm happy to see it happening.
[1:21:08] Um one of the reasons for doing the tour
[1:21:10] down in North Kawichin is to find out
[1:21:14] those exact questions. How did they make
[1:21:16] it happen? What are lessons that they've
[1:21:18] learned? Um what were the challenges or
[1:21:20] pinch points and those kinds of things.
[1:21:22] So, um hopefully um the um we'll we'll
[1:21:26] get some light shed and uh I I think one
[1:21:29] of the things that is not lost on me
[1:21:31] when every year goes by uh on a project
[1:21:34] like this, whatever is going to be cost
[1:21:37] construction, the the costs going up and
[1:21:39] I think I've had this conversation with
[1:21:40] you. I it was the first conversation I
[1:21:42] had with Inspector Kerver when I became
[1:21:44] mayor. Um and that was, you know, seven
[1:21:47] years over seven years ago now. And so,
[1:21:50] uh, I think it's, uh, definitely, uh,
[1:21:53] something that that, uh, we're we're
[1:21:55] keen on getting as much, uh, data as we
[1:21:57] can. So, um, with that, I think, uh,
[1:22:00] we're flush out of questions for now,
[1:22:02] but, uh, really looking forward to the
[1:22:05] presentation on, um, on the on the new
[1:22:07] car and, uh, and its impact on our
[1:22:10] community. And I just want to really say
[1:22:12] thanks the feedback from uh
[1:22:14] organizations but even just uh the
[1:22:16] impact that you guys have had with uh
[1:22:18] the different events you're putting on.
[1:22:20] It's just great to see that uh community
[1:22:22] integration. So much appreciate it.
[1:22:24] >> Well, thank you for your time this
[1:22:25] » Well, thank you for your time this
[1:22:25] evening.
[1:22:26] >> All right, have a good day.
[1:22:29] » All right, have a good day.
[1:22:29] >> Um all right, uh over to internal
[1:22:32] » Um all right, uh over to internal
[1:22:32] reports and correspondence. We'll uh go
[1:22:34] back to our regularly scheduled um
[1:22:37] agenda. 6.1 ABA digital gold award for
[1:22:40] Courtney's website redesign and I'll
[1:22:42] pass it over to Mr. Garvet.
[1:22:44] >> Yeah, thank you through the mayor to
[1:22:45] » Yeah, thank you through the mayor to
[1:22:45] council. Um unfortunately um
[1:22:48] [clears throat] and Guio is unwell today
[1:22:50] and so uh Kate Connell is going to give
[1:22:52] a little overview of this briefing note
[1:22:54] which is extremely exciting and we're
[1:22:56] all proud very proud of the work.
[1:22:59] >> Uh thanks very much. Yes. Um, I'm very
[1:23:02] » Uh thanks very much. Yes. Um, I'm very
[1:23:02] sad that on one of the very few nights
[1:23:04] that Ann is not able to be here is one
[1:23:06] where we're going to have an opportunity
[1:23:07] to celebrate in a successful project
[1:23:10] that she was really an integral part and
[1:23:12] lead of. But um, to get to it, I'm
[1:23:14] excited to bring some fantastic news,
[1:23:16] but a significant accomplishment for the
[1:23:18] city of Courtney. We've been awarded the
[1:23:20] AVA Digital Gold Award in recognition of
[1:23:23] our recent website redesign. The ABA
[1:23:25] Digital Awards is an esteemed
[1:23:26] international competition that
[1:23:28] celebrates excellence in digital
[1:23:29] creativity, branding, and strategy
[1:23:32] recognizing the work of creative
[1:23:33] professionals across various fields such
[1:23:35] as digital campaigns, website
[1:23:36] development, audio, and visual
[1:23:38] production, and social media engagement.
[1:23:40] The award highlights innovative
[1:23:42] approaches to digital communication and
[1:23:44] the transformative impact of technology
[1:23:46] on communications and engagement. The
[1:23:48] website replacement project was
[1:23:50] initiated due to the pressing need for a
[1:23:51] modern and accessible city website. Our
[1:23:54] previous site, which was over a decade
[1:23:55] old, fell short of current designs and
[1:23:57] functionality standards. Through
[1:23:59] community consultation, we learned that
[1:24:01] many of our residents, particularly
[1:24:02] those from equity deserving communities,
[1:24:04] relied heavily on our website for
[1:24:06] essential information, but face
[1:24:08] challenges in navigating it. The new
[1:24:10] website, launched on July 22nd of last
[1:24:12] year, marks a significant step in
[1:24:14] enhancing our digital presence and
[1:24:15] providing better access to vital
[1:24:17] information for residents, businesses,
[1:24:19] staff, and visitors.
[1:24:21] One of the key elements of the project
[1:24:23] success in this ex exceptional collab is
[1:24:25] the exceptional collaboration across all
[1:24:27] city departments. Every department
[1:24:29] played an important role in the
[1:24:31] development of the new site ensuring
[1:24:33] that it truly reflects the diverse needs
[1:24:34] of our community members. This award is
[1:24:37] not just for website. It is a shared
[1:24:39] achievement by everyone involved in the
[1:24:41] project. We came together to create a
[1:24:43] user-friendly, informative and
[1:24:44] accessible digital platform. I want to
[1:24:47] extend special thanks to Angio who's
[1:24:49] currently the acting director of
[1:24:50] corporate services but regularly the
[1:24:53] manager of communication services for
[1:24:55] her leadership and unwavering commitment
[1:24:57] throughout this process as well as to
[1:24:59] the communications team whose expertise
[1:25:01] was crucial in bringing this redesign to
[1:25:03] life. Some highlights include um or key
[1:25:07] improvements include a userentric
[1:25:09] design. So, this redesigned website
[1:25:11] features streamlined navigation tailored
[1:25:13] to different user groups, making it
[1:25:14] easier for everyone to find information
[1:25:16] quickly. It's accessible. So, we have
[1:25:19] enhanced the accessibility of our
[1:25:20] website to meet the WC A2.2 level
[1:25:24] doubleA standards, ensuring that it's
[1:25:26] usable by all members of our community.
[1:25:29] We've enhanced the search functionality,
[1:25:31] so users can now easily navigate and
[1:25:33] aggregate results from various
[1:25:34] platforms, simplifying the process of
[1:25:37] finding information. There's also an
[1:25:39] interactive and multilingual features.
[1:25:42] The incorporation of interactive maps
[1:25:44] and support of over 80 languages with
[1:25:47] immediate translation broadens
[1:25:48] accessibility and engagement
[1:25:49] opportunities for everyone. This award
[1:25:52] represents the hard work and dedication
[1:25:54] of every individual who contributed to
[1:25:56] bringing this vision to life. But
[1:25:58] really, it wouldn't have been possible
[1:25:59] without the input and perspectives of
[1:26:01] our residents and business community
[1:26:03] members um who are extremely integral in
[1:26:06] informing how we shaped the way we
[1:26:08] interact with our community members. And
[1:26:10] with that, any questions uh council may
[1:26:12] have, but happy to celebrate an award.
[1:26:18] » Thank you so much. And and huge kudos to
[1:26:21] uh to Ann and the team. Um I I know uh
[1:26:24] for someone like myself uh I I was
[1:26:26] chomping at the bit for quite some time.
[1:26:29] Um and uh but seeing the the outcome uh
[1:26:33] definitely was worth the wait. So uh and
[1:26:35] I I think I mentioned I've me well I've
[1:26:36] mentioned it to Ann I think quite a few
[1:26:38] times. I've mentioned it at this table
[1:26:40] as well um just the ability to find
[1:26:42] information uh which I think is its most
[1:26:44] critical uh use is uh uh definitely uh
[1:26:48] heads and shoulders above what it used
[1:26:50] to be. So uh councelor Thanks, Mayor
[1:26:53] Hardy. Congratulations to you and your
[1:26:55] entire department. And in particular, I
[1:26:57] hope Miss Guo knows how much uh her work
[1:27:00] is valued and appreciated. Uh she does
[1:27:03] excellent work, not just in relation to
[1:27:06] this website redesign, but but
[1:27:07] throughout her duties and and she's an
[1:27:09] incredibly valued member of of the city
[1:27:11] staff. Um, I did want to ask if there is
[1:27:14] any sort of formal uh presentation that
[1:27:17] will be taking place. Uh, an expenses
[1:27:19] paid trip to somewhere or anything like
[1:27:21] that.
[1:27:25] » Yep.
[1:27:28] » Um, this is not one of those ones where
[1:27:31] we get to fly some place and accept and
[1:27:33] get photos. Um, they actually made the
[1:27:35] announcement through the website and
[1:27:37] that's how we found out. At the same
[1:27:38] time, I will say um we did take the
[1:27:41] liberty of of um celebrating with some
[1:27:43] staff uh including some uh gold medals
[1:27:47] made by hot chocolates to to be able to
[1:27:49] share. So, we all felt that that pride
[1:27:51] of the award, but no, it's there's
[1:27:53] unfortunately no uh presentation here.
[1:27:55] It's a bit more subtle than that, but
[1:27:57] still appreciate it.
[1:27:59] >> And and on the um agenda, there are some
[1:28:01] » And and on the um agenda, there are some
[1:28:01] screenshots and there's a bit of a
[1:28:03] PowerPoint there for those who are
[1:28:04] following us online. They can uh take a
[1:28:06] look at the site there. Uh but hopefully
[1:28:08] they would have gotten there from our
[1:28:10] website. So um again, huge kudos uh if
[1:28:14] we if we look at how to best communicate
[1:28:16] with um uh the folks of the city of
[1:28:19] Courtney and beyond uh the website's
[1:28:22] definitely most effective way. So really
[1:28:24] happy to see that and uh congratulations
[1:28:26] to everybody. Um and uh council just
[1:28:30] unanimously received this and uh again
[1:28:33] kudos to everybody involved. Um, next on
[1:28:36] the agenda, we have the indigenous uh
[1:28:38] procurement uh update. Mr. Gar,
[1:28:42] thank you through the mayor to council.
[1:28:45] Um, council gave us direction to update
[1:28:47] our procurement policy. Uh, as well, uh,
[1:28:49] we committed to bring back some
[1:28:51] information on how it was going. We're
[1:28:52] one of the first municipalities to
[1:28:54] actively engage on this and we're really
[1:28:56] proud of that work. We think it's very
[1:28:58] very important and it's consistent with
[1:28:59] council's direction on reconciliation
[1:29:01] and activities to support um uh
[1:29:05] important capacity building in our
[1:29:07] community. Uh again, Mr. Eninsworth is
[1:29:09] going to give us an overview of this
[1:29:11] program and he's available for
[1:29:13] questions.
[1:29:18] Thank you, Mr. Garbett. uh through the
[1:29:19] city manager and mayor council. This
[1:29:21] briefing note provides an update on the
[1:29:23] city's indigenous procurement work, what
[1:29:25] staff are currently doing and where we
[1:29:27] see the future opportunities. Indigenous
[1:29:29] procurement refers to procurement
[1:29:31] practices that intentionally increase
[1:29:32] participation by indigenous owned
[1:29:35] businesses in public sector supply
[1:29:37] chains. At its core, the work supports
[1:29:39] economic development, job creation, and
[1:29:42] capacity building within indi indigenous
[1:29:44] communities while also advancing
[1:29:46] reconciliation in a practical and
[1:29:48] systemic way. In January 2023, council
[1:29:51] adopted in an updated procurement policy
[1:29:53] framework. This was a significant
[1:29:55] milestone as it modernized a policy last
[1:29:58] updated in 2011 and for the first time
[1:30:01] at the local government level in BC, it
[1:30:03] included explicit language supporting
[1:30:05] indigenous procurement. Since that time,
[1:30:07] staff have been focused on embedding
[1:30:09] indigenous procurement considerations
[1:30:10] into day-to-day procurement activity
[1:30:12] across the organization.
[1:30:16] Since policy adoption, staff have
[1:30:18] implemented indigenous procurement
[1:30:19] across all non- construction procurement
[1:30:21] processes, updated templates, and
[1:30:24] delivered training to staff. Indigenous
[1:30:26] procurement considerations are now
[1:30:27] routinely discussed in bitter debriefs
[1:30:30] and importantly staff have received no
[1:30:32] negative feedback from the market on
[1:30:33] this approach to date through regular
[1:30:36] meetings with the Komox Economic
[1:30:38] Development Corporation. Staff have
[1:30:39] developed indicative processes for
[1:30:41] capital construction projects informed
[1:30:42] by those discussions. Current work is
[1:30:45] focused on developing indigenous
[1:30:46] procurement plans for mal major capital
[1:30:48] projects such as the East Courtney Fire
[1:30:50] Hall and the Anderton lift station.
[1:30:52] Looking ahead, staff see opportunities
[1:30:54] to further refine indigenous procurement
[1:30:56] and capital construction, including uh
[1:30:59] post post project reporting to assess
[1:31:01] effectiveness and inform continuous
[1:31:03] improvement. Continued staff training
[1:31:05] and organizational capacity building
[1:31:06] will remain a focus alongside
[1:31:08] strengthening relationships with
[1:31:10] indigenous partners. Overall, this work
[1:31:12] position positions the city to deliver
[1:31:15] meaningful and systemic reconciliation
[1:31:17] outcomes while remaining fully compliant
[1:31:18] with applicable trade agreements and
[1:31:20] procurement best practices. And with
[1:31:22] that, I'll be happy to take any
[1:31:23] questions.
[1:31:25] >> Fantastic. Thanks so much and
[1:31:26] » Fantastic. Thanks so much and
[1:31:26] appreciated the reports and I'll pass it
[1:31:29] over to Councelor Hill.
[1:31:31] >> Thanks, Mayor, and thanks for staff's
[1:31:34] » Thanks, Mayor, and thanks for staff's
[1:31:34] work on this initiative. I did note
[1:31:36] there was a question from the public
[1:31:38] that among other things asked about um
[1:31:41] um whether or not this um initiative
[1:31:44] tracked engagement with um indigenous
[1:31:50] members of the community beyond Karach's
[1:31:52] first nation and we do have uh certainly
[1:31:55] people with uh from other uh uh
[1:31:58] indigenous backgrounds along with matei
[1:32:00] and uh so I just wondered if um you know
[1:32:02] we have any way of tracking that within
[1:32:06] the procurement initiative.
[1:32:08] >> Um so in terms of tracking the progress
[1:32:11] » Um so in terms of tracking the progress
[1:32:11] amongst the communities um in the
[1:32:14] various first nations uh whether it be
[1:32:16] on Vancouver Island, BC or more broadly
[1:32:18] um we we don't necessarily have any
[1:32:21] tracking mechanisms currently in place
[1:32:23] for that. Um the structure of the policy
[1:32:26] around specific opportunities for
[1:32:28] specific first nations is really around
[1:32:30] the construction procurement piece and
[1:32:31] that's u based on um typically um well
[1:32:35] I'm getting drifting away from your
[1:32:36] question I apologize but um I guess the
[1:32:38] answer is no we don't have any tracking
[1:32:40] mechanisms and I'll stop there. Yeah.
[1:32:42] >> Oh yeah sure. Um just um in terms of the
[1:32:45] » Oh yeah sure. Um just um in terms of the
[1:32:45] construction procurement, it is it the
[1:32:47] policy is highly defined for Komox First
[1:32:50] Nation businesses. Um and and the reason
[1:32:52] for that is is the work is is occurring
[1:32:54] on their traditional territory. So um
[1:32:56] there there's two pieces to the policy.
[1:32:59] Something that broadly applies across
[1:33:00] all procurement that isn't necessarily
[1:33:02] structured or or directed specifically
[1:33:05] to Komox First Nation on the
[1:33:06] construction side of things because
[1:33:08] we're building those projects within
[1:33:09] city limits that is on that traditional
[1:33:11] territory. refocus those opportunities
[1:33:13] to KFN and their businesses.
[1:33:17] >> Right. Councelor
[1:33:20] » Right. Councelor
[1:33:20] Hill.
[1:33:21] >> Thanks, Mary. And just to follow up, um
[1:33:23] » Thanks, Mary. And just to follow up, um
[1:33:23] I know that there are a number of
[1:33:26] indigenous b businesses that are in fact
[1:33:29] connected to Komox. I don't know whether
[1:33:32] there we have uh businesses in the
[1:33:35] community that have other indigenous
[1:33:37] heritage that they identify as such, but
[1:33:39] I'm imagining that um when we um when we
[1:33:44] go through the procurement process and
[1:33:46] essentially award points for some sort
[1:33:48] of indication that there's an indigenous
[1:33:50] component um that could in fact cover
[1:33:55] the whole range of uh of communities
[1:33:57] that are represented within the valley
[1:33:59] beyond just Komox.
[1:34:00] >> Yep. Absolutely. So um just um speaking
[1:34:03] » Yep. Absolutely. So um just um speaking
[1:34:03] currently or a procurement that recently
[1:34:05] closed, we did see um a vendor that
[1:34:08] identified as an indigenous business
[1:34:10] from down island. Um so we are asking
[1:34:12] those questions around whether or not
[1:34:14] the organization that's bidding a
[1:34:16] project is an indigenous business and to
[1:34:18] provide additional information and
[1:34:19] details to that effect.
[1:34:22] >> Excellent. Thanks uh councelor councelor
[1:34:24] » Excellent. Thanks uh councelor councelor
[1:34:24] Mr. Gard.
[1:34:25] >> Yeah, thank you through the mayor.
[1:34:27] » Yeah, thank you through the mayor.
[1:34:27] Councelor Helen, just with respect to
[1:34:28] the identification of Komox First Nation
[1:34:30] and so I would say we're in a relatively
[1:34:33] unique position where we have one
[1:34:34] principal First Nation within our uh
[1:34:37] within our the lands that incorporate
[1:34:39] our municipality and so that's
[1:34:41] appropriate to identify that principal
[1:34:42] First Nation. If we're in the context
[1:34:45] where we had multiple First Nations as
[1:34:46] is the case uh north and south, east and
[1:34:49] west of us, uh then we would do that.
[1:34:51] That's the explanation as to why there's
[1:34:53] a specific reference.
[1:34:56] Uh thanks for that clarification. Uh
[1:34:58] appreciate that. Um and um thank you.
[1:35:03] And we'll receive that unanimously. Uh
[1:35:05] thank you Scott for the the
[1:35:07] presentation. And we'll move into
[1:35:08] bylaws. We have 7.1.1 fees and charges
[1:35:10] amendment bylaw 3208 2026 for solid
[1:35:14] waste.
[1:35:17] » Okay. And I'll pass it over, I think, to
[1:35:20] Chris Thompson.
[1:35:22] >> Uh yeah. or if council has any questions
[1:35:25] » Uh yeah. or if council has any questions
[1:35:25] we can have a presentation or if you
[1:35:26] want to proceed as is carry on.
[1:35:33] » Okay. So, looks like we're going to Yep.
[1:35:37] Uh
[1:35:39] >> fair enough. Okay. Uh so, it's been
[1:35:42] » fair enough. Okay. Uh so, it's been
[1:35:42] moved and seconded. Doesn't sound like
[1:35:44] there's any questions. Um, so with that,
[1:35:47] all those in favor and motion carries
[1:35:51] and we'll go to 7.1.2,
[1:35:55] the uh 2026 revenue anticipation boring
[1:35:58] bylaw 3209.
[1:36:02] Okay, it's been moved and seconded. And
[1:36:04] I heard that Mr. Langmire was online. If
[1:36:07] there's any questions,
[1:36:09] there he is.
[1:36:11] Uh, councelor Fr.
[1:36:13] >> Yeah. No, quickly. We do this every year
[1:36:15] » Yeah. No, quickly. We do this every year
[1:36:15] this time of year. So, I'm really happy
[1:36:17] just to move ahead. Thanks.
[1:36:20] >> All right. With that, I'll call the
[1:36:21] » All right. With that, I'll call the
[1:36:22] question. All those in favor?
[1:36:24] Any opposed? And motion carries. And
[1:36:28] that brings us to council reports. We'll
[1:36:30] start with councelor Cole Hamilton.
[1:36:32] Councelor Fr. Councelor Hillian.
[1:36:37] [clears throat]
[1:36:38] >> Thanks, Mayor. Two things. First of all,
[1:36:40] » Thanks, Mayor. Two things. First of all,
[1:36:40] I want to acknowledge um being part of
[1:36:43] the uh project watershed's celebration
[1:36:46] of the lifting of the of the wall at the
[1:36:49] cuscusum site. And uh I would encourage
[1:36:52] anybody who hasn't had the opportunity
[1:36:53] to watch the process unfolding uh to to
[1:36:57] take it in. It's quite remarkable to
[1:36:59] actually watch one of those steel plates
[1:37:01] being pulled out from start to finish
[1:37:02] and to see how long they are. And uh um
[1:37:05] so there was an event on Thursday
[1:37:06] afternoon that was um open to members of
[1:37:09] the public who had signed up with three
[1:37:10] sessions that yourself and and others
[1:37:13] were at and very well attended with a
[1:37:16] great deal of support for the project.
[1:37:18] So I just wanted to acknowledge that. I
[1:37:20] also wanted to acknowledge that um in
[1:37:23] the past weeks I've had the opportunity
[1:37:25] to reflect on um the uh the work that
[1:37:28] our staff does um sometimes in the face
[1:37:31] of a significant amount of pressure and
[1:37:33] I'm aware that um at the council table
[1:37:36] from time to time either through
[1:37:38] reflecting things we've heard in the
[1:37:40] public or through questions that come up
[1:37:42] for ourselves um it might be implied
[1:37:45] that uh that council members such as
[1:37:47] myself don't always have the uh um uh
[1:37:52] the the full regard for the work that
[1:37:54] our staff does that uh that perhaps we
[1:37:58] it might be implied that that we don't
[1:38:01] respect and value the work that our
[1:38:02] staff does. And I I just want to
[1:38:04] reaffirm my own perspective that u the
[1:38:08] staff that works for the city of
[1:38:09] Courtney and the consultants that serve
[1:38:10] us do excellent work sometimes under
[1:38:13] very difficult circumstances. And uh I
[1:38:16] want to reaffirm uh my uh faith and and
[1:38:19] respect for the expertise and the
[1:38:21] professionalism that they bring to the
[1:38:23] work that they commit every day. And uh
[1:38:25] I think we're very fortunate to have the
[1:38:27] staff and consultants that we do have.
[1:38:29] And um uh I think from time to time the
[1:38:33] the cut and thrust of what goes on at
[1:38:35] the council table may suggest otherwise
[1:38:37] and it couldn't be further from the
[1:38:38] truth from my perspective and I just
[1:38:40] wanted to acknowledge that today.
[1:38:42] >> Thanks.
[1:38:43] » Thanks.
[1:38:43] >> Uh thanks so much. Councelor Hill,
[1:38:45] » Uh thanks so much. Councelor Hill,
[1:38:45] really appreciate that. Uh, yeah, the I
[1:38:48] know the the staff definitely have my
[1:38:50] utmost confidence and I think that that
[1:38:52] that's pretty true of of all of council,
[1:38:54] but yeah, sometimes uh comments can be
[1:38:56] made that could be uh misconstrued. So,
[1:38:58] I appreciate you clarifying. Um, Council
[1:39:01] McCullum,
[1:39:04] Councelor Morren, and um, again, just
[1:39:07] want to appreciate everybody who came to
[1:39:09] the couscous event. It was extremely
[1:39:11] well attended, an amazing event. very
[1:39:14] inspiring to see our community come
[1:39:15] together and I know there's many council
[1:39:17] members there. Um uh last night I was
[1:39:20] able to present uh the Legion with a
[1:39:23] replacement freedom of the city uh um
[1:39:27] plaque which uh apparently had gone
[1:39:29] awall um uh a year or two ago and so
[1:39:33] we're able to replace that and they were
[1:39:35] very thankful and it's a good time to uh
[1:39:38] reflect on the fact that the Legion
[1:39:40] Canadian Legions are celebrating 100
[1:39:42] years this year. Um and uh so it was a
[1:39:45] great presentation last night and um uh
[1:39:48] this is the time of year where I'm doing
[1:39:50] a lot of presentations uh to
[1:39:51] organizations uh like Rotary and uh
[1:39:54] Lions, that kind of thing. And so if
[1:39:56] there are any organizations out there
[1:39:57] that are wanting an update uh on city
[1:40:00] activities, happy to do that. But uh in
[1:40:03] particular, the Courtney Rotary Club uh
[1:40:06] uh yesterday I was able to uh go and
[1:40:08] accept a check. Actually Joy took the
[1:40:10] check. Uh I just got a picture with the
[1:40:12] big one um uh for $10,000 to the
[1:40:15] Woodcoat Park. Um and uh so uh and just
[1:40:19] it's really great to see uh Rotary Clubs
[1:40:22] uh kind of getting re-engaged and over
[1:40:25] the last um uh uh year and a bit the
[1:40:28] Courtney Rotary Club is actually put um
[1:40:31] uh over $150,000 into um projects within
[1:40:36] the city of Courtney. So, um, uh, they
[1:40:39] they were ready to go and I know there's
[1:40:41] other Rotary clubs that are just just as
[1:40:43] excited and and happy to work with the
[1:40:44] city on on projects. So, uh, with that,
[1:40:48] uh, we'll adjourn.