[2:19] All right, everyone. Good evening.
[2:23] I'd like to start by recognizing the
[2:24] land on the unceded territory of the
[2:26] Quw'utsun
[2:27] nation and that in this room there's
[2:29] different views, different ways of
[2:30] expression, different emotional
[2:32] intensities, and different roads that
[2:33] lead to conclusions.
[2:35] May we combine clarity of mind with
[2:37] kindness of heart, and may we be
[2:39] impartial without bending to strong
[2:40] personalities.
[2:41] May we sacrifice self-interest for the
[2:43] good of the whole, and may we do our
[2:45] work with the love and clarity of vision
[2:46] for the benefit of those that we
[2:48] represent. And with that, I'll call this
[2:50] meeting to order. Are there any late
[2:51] items tonight, Ms. Hodgins?
[2:54] So, I'll move for approval of the
[2:55] agenda, uh that council moved the July
[2:57] 27th agenda be adopted as circulated.
[3:00] Any discussion? All those in favor?
[3:02] And adoption of minutes, June 22nd,
[3:06] that we adopt the minutes from June 22nd
[3:08] regular council meeting as circulated.
[3:10] Is there a mover and a seconder? Any
[3:11] discussion? All those in favor?
[3:15] Thank you. And we have a delegation this
[3:17] evening.
[3:19] Uh Callum Matthews is uh going to be
[3:21] presenting from Tourism Cowichan,
[3:23] the municipal and regional district tax
[3:25] five-year plan. Welcome. Welcome.
[3:30] » Perfect. Thank you so much. I appreciate
[3:33] the opportunity
[3:39] There we go.
[3:40] That's better.
[3:42] Perfect. Well, really happy to be here
[3:43] this evening to share some information
[3:45] about the ongoing renewal of the
[3:47] municipal and regional district tax
[3:50] um across the regional district here,
[3:51] which includes Duncan, of course. Um my
[3:54] plan for tonight is just to share a
[3:56] snapshot from a revenue perspective of
[3:58] what we're anticipating, some highlights
[4:00] of the 5-year plan, as well as some
[4:02] highlights for the tactical plan
[4:05] for the 2027 calendar year,
[4:07] and wrap it up just letting you know
[4:09] kind of next steps and general
[4:10] timelines.
[4:14] For those of you who aren't aware, the
[4:16] municipal and regional district tax, or
[4:18] MRDT, is British Columbia's program to
[4:22] generate revenue to support tourism
[4:23] investment. Um it's been around since
[4:25] the 1980s. It's in place in just about
[4:28] every community in British Columbia and
[4:30] on Vancouver Island. And many of you may
[4:33] be familiar with similar programs in
[4:35] other provinces or countries. Some
[4:38] places it may look like an entry entry
[4:40] or exit fee as you fly in or out, um but
[4:42] the most common model is similar to
[4:44] ours, where there is a fee applied to
[4:46] overnight accommodation.
[4:48] In British Columbia, we have the option
[4:50] of either a 2 or 3% tax rate. Currently,
[4:54] right now in the regional district, it's
[4:56] being collected at a tax rate of 2%. Um
[4:59] across Vancouver Island in BC, the
[5:01] majority of communities have already
[5:02] moved to 3% or in the process of moving
[5:05] to 3%, and it's our intention and goal
[5:08] to move from 2% to 3% as a part of this
[5:11] renewal. Um the major outcome of that is
[5:14] it'll enable us to significantly
[5:15] increase funding to the visitor centers
[5:18] um across the regional district, which
[5:19] is an area of need that we've heard um
[5:21] from stakeholders, from our partners at
[5:23] the chamber, at BIAs, and also um from
[5:25] councils.
[5:27] It's important to recognize that there's
[5:28] a variety of eligible in ineligible
[5:30] expenses for the program. Generally
[5:33] speaking, anything to do with tourism
[5:34] marketing, um experience development,
[5:37] supporting operators, visitor centers,
[5:39] all of that is a typical eligible use.
[5:42] Where we run into challenges anything
[5:44] brick and mortar that requires
[5:45] construction. Um so capital costs are
[5:48] generally speaking not eligible expenses
[5:50] with the important exception of
[5:52] affordable housing, and I'll speak a
[5:54] little bit more about that in a few
[5:55] slides.
[5:57] And we have to renew our MRDT every 5
[6:00] years, so we're going through this
[6:01] process because it is a part of the the
[6:03] legislated way that this program
[6:05] operates in the province.
[6:08] This is a snapshot of MRDT renewals over
[6:12] the past few years going back to 2022.
[6:15] And it also shows our anticipated
[6:17] revenue when we move up to uh 3% MRDT.
[6:21] Um, you can see us a pretty steady
[6:23] recovery in MRDT revenues coming out of
[6:25] COVID. And at the 3% we're anticipating
[6:29] about um 140 or so thousand in
[6:32] additional MRDT revenue. And about 80
[6:35] additional thousand dollars in um online
[6:37] accommodation platform revenue, and
[6:39] those are the funds that um are
[6:41] currently going to Cowichan Housing for
[6:43] affordable housing purposes. So we're
[6:45] looking at pretty close to additional
[6:46] quarter million dollars in revenue by
[6:48] moving from 2% to 3%.
[6:51] When we look at communities across
[6:53] British Columbia that have gone to 3%,
[6:56] we know that there is no change in
[6:57] visitor decision-making. No one's going
[6:59] to say, "Oh, Cowichan's, you know, 1%
[7:01] more than this other community." and
[7:03] change their plan. Um, so we're really
[7:05] leaving um quite a bit of revenue um on
[7:07] the table collecting at this 2% rate.
[7:10] And our neighbors are um across
[7:13] Vancouver Island collecting at 3% um
[7:16] which really gives them a competitive
[7:17] advantage in terms of tourism
[7:19] development and marketing.
[7:21] So next jumping into a bit of an
[7:23] overview of the business plan.
[7:26] From the perspective of the vision, the
[7:27] focus for Tourism Cowichan Society is
[7:29] that uh tourism will be a significant
[7:31] contributor to um the community from an
[7:33] economic as well as a social well-being
[7:35] perspective. And as a premier
[7:38] destination for leisure getaways and
[7:40] vacations, Cowichan is increasingly
[7:42] known as a place where tourism actively
[7:44] supports destination development,
[7:46] stewardship, and industry development
[7:47] for the long-term benefit of residents
[7:50] and the local community and visitors.
[7:52] Our philosophy is really centered on
[7:53] this idea that a great place to live is
[7:55] a great place to visit. The real real
[7:57] reason I think people come to Vancouver
[7:59] Island is to experience what it's like
[8:00] to live here. Um so, safeguarding place
[8:03] and contributing to the vibrancy of
[8:04] community and the economic and social
[8:06] development is really important um for
[8:08] Tourism Cowichan.
[8:10] The mission for Tourism Cowichan is to
[8:11] steward the region's tourism industry by
[8:13] aligning the strategy of Tourism
[8:15] Cowichan Society and its investments
[8:17] with community priorities, fostering a
[8:19] sustainable economy that creates
[8:21] long-term benefits for businesses,
[8:22] partners, visitors, and residents
[8:24] through destination development,
[8:25] stewardship, industry training, and
[8:27] marketing initiatives that unite the
[8:29] region while showcasing the uniqueness
[8:31] of Cowichan's many communities.
[8:34] And I think that this is the best
[8:35] opportunity and challenge that we have
[8:37] as Tourism Cowichan Society. It's a big,
[8:40] quite diverse region. Uh we need to have
[8:42] a central brand and marketing strategy
[8:46] and cohesive destination and experience
[8:47] development work, but we also need to
[8:49] showcase what makes each one of the many
[8:51] communities in the region special and
[8:53] unique.
[8:56] So, jumping into the 5-year plan,
[8:58] there's four primary goals that have
[8:59] been identified through fairly extensive
[9:02] engagement with uh industry over the
[9:04] past several months. First, to influence
[9:07] destination development through
[9:08] collaboration, advocacy, and strategic
[9:10] investment. Second, to lead in
[9:12] regenerative tourism and community
[9:13] well-being. Third, to strengthen
[9:15] industry collaboration and business
[9:17] resilience. And lastly, to solidify the
[9:19] Cowichan region's destination identity
[9:21] and market position.
[9:23] A few more details around this first
[9:25] goal that's centered on destination
[9:26] development. Uh we want to focus on
[9:29] informing regional planning and
[9:30] development. Um
[9:32] and really the goal there is trying to
[9:33] find more alignment, more partnership
[9:36] opportunities with local governments,
[9:38] um play a role um where it works for us
[9:41] you know us to work in a synergistic way
[9:42] with staff at the regional district and
[9:44] councils to share a tourism perspective.
[9:47] Um this was something that we heard
[9:48] really clearly from um tourism operators
[9:51] during our engagement sessions.
[9:53] The second area is around supporting and
[9:55] advocating for tourism-related
[9:57] infrastructure and services. Uh Tourism
[9:59] Cowichan is currently working on
[10:01] accommodation investment, attraction, uh
[10:04] cycling and hiking trail development. Um
[10:07] and I think there's a lot of opportunity
[10:08] for Tourism Cowichan Society to work
[10:10] more closely um with staff um at
[10:13] municipalities and the regional district
[10:14] in pursuit of some I think very common
[10:16] and shared goals there.
[10:19] Second, around regenerative tourism and
[10:21] community well-being, the focus is on
[10:22] promoting sustainable tourism and
[10:24] responsible travel practices. That can
[10:26] look like um sustainability training for
[10:28] operators,
[10:30] um stewardship messaging ingrained in
[10:32] our promotion to visitors, um trying to
[10:34] instill a sense of respect for the place
[10:36] that they visit and help them understand
[10:38] how they can give back and contribute.
[10:40] Partnerships with community
[10:41] organizations, and I think the
[10:42] investment that's a part of this plan in
[10:44] the visitor centers is a good example of
[10:46] that. And there's also a desire to have
[10:49] greater alignment with the Vancouver
[10:50] Island region's destination stewardship
[10:52] strategy when it comes to trying to
[10:54] attract um provincial and federal
[10:56] funding for tourism projects, alignment
[10:58] with regional as well as provincial
[10:59] plans is really important. And it can
[11:02] help Tourism Cowichan leverage its
[11:04] resources, uh leverage its funding
[11:06] against regional dollars and provincial
[11:07] dollars as well.
[11:09] In terms of industry collaboration and
[11:11] resilience, we also heard loudly from
[11:13] operators um a desire for us to expand
[11:16] industry engagement and
[11:17] knowledge-sharing opportunities, whether
[11:19] it's networking events, but I think more
[11:21] specifically it was workshops and
[11:22] training. Um they've had a program
[11:24] recently that was focused on helping
[11:26] operators increase their dis- digital
[11:28] sophistication, find ways to connect um
[11:30] with consumers on their own and tell
[11:32] their own story. That was really popular
[11:35] and, um, something that will be doubling
[11:36] down on in future years as well as
[11:38] looking at other training opportunities
[11:40] for operators.
[11:41] There's a desire to strengthen
[11:42] relationships with indigenous partners
[11:44] in the region, um, specifically around
[11:47] experience development, and continued
[11:49] investment in, um, Tourism Cowichan
[11:52] Society board training. Uh, they can
[11:54] conduct annual board retreats where they
[11:56] focus on board governance training, um,
[11:58] and then also strategy for the
[12:00] organization.
[12:02] And goal four, around more that
[12:04] marketing branding side. Uh, it's main-
[12:07] about maintaining a unified destination
[12:08] brand that brings all of our communities
[12:11] together, expanding collaborative
[12:12] marketing and storytelling
[12:14] opportunities, um, cooperative marketing
[12:16] programs, cross promotion, the
[12:18] opportunity to help amplify the stories
[12:20] of individual communities, and working
[12:23] with partner organizations like chambers
[12:24] and BIAs in pursuit of that. And then
[12:27] supporting the delivery of visitor
[12:28] information services, um, through a
[12:31] significantly increased financial
[12:33] contribution. Um, you know, my
[12:34] perspective is really when there's MRDT
[12:36] in place, uh, the best use of the funds
[12:39] is that that helps to bring the greatest
[12:41] benefit to community as well as offset
[12:44] other kind of core tax costs for
[12:46] residents. Um, so, moving to 3% would
[12:49] enable Tourism Cowichan Society to
[12:50] provide more funding to the visitor
[12:52] centers. We know that visitor centers
[12:54] are really important for the Cowichan
[12:56] region, and that they haven't had the
[12:57] funding that they need to operate in the
[12:59] past. So, um, looking to kind of set a
[13:01] new really positive course, um, is a
[13:03] part of this MRDT renewal.
[13:05] And lastly, a snapshot for what's
[13:07] planned for the 2027 calendar year.
[13:10] From a marketing perspective, we're
[13:12] looking to evolve from 2026 by having a
[13:14] stronger focus on influencer marketing,
[13:16] creator partnerships, and really leaning
[13:19] into organic social media.
[13:21] We want to continue with enhancements to
[13:23] improve not just the accessibility of
[13:26] the Tourism Cowichan and
[13:27] integrations for people that might have
[13:29] visual impairments, etc.
[13:31] Um as well as from an AI readiness
[13:32] perspective. So, for us that isn't
[13:34] integrating AI throughout the website
[13:37] because we know that when um visitors
[13:39] that are planning a trip spot AI, it
[13:41] makes them skeptical, you lose trust.
[13:44] But, we also know that lots of people
[13:45] are using AI for trip planning, and we
[13:47] need to
[13:48] um kind of design the the content within
[13:50] the website um so that will feed into
[13:52] those um large language model platforms
[13:55] and help people that are using those
[13:57] tools for their trip planning.
[13:59] Um also looking to align organic social
[14:01] media with new content pillars that will
[14:03] help to tell a better story for the
[14:05] region.
[14:06] And then looking to redesign the visitor
[14:08] guide in 2028. We just recently did a
[14:11] redesign of that, so we'll just be able
[14:13] to update some content and keep things
[14:14] simple for 2027, and then as is typical
[14:17] for us every other year make a a bigger
[14:19] investment in a refresh.
[14:21] Uh reducing our budget in collateral
[14:23] production is also planned for 2027
[14:25] based on investments made in 2026 and
[14:27] 2025.
[14:29] Um and then lastly, looking at um
[14:32] currently there's a handful of different
[14:33] cooperative marketing programs that we
[14:35] invest in, uh the BC Ale Trail, the Bird
[14:37] Trail, um things like that that are
[14:39] happening provincially. And the that
[14:41] program through Destination BC is going
[14:43] through some significant changes. So,
[14:45] we're going to take a really deep look
[14:47] at that and make sure that we're getting
[14:48] best bang for buck um with those um
[14:51] co-op investments that we're making.
[14:53] And then lastly, from a destination
[14:55] development and product experience side
[14:57] of things, um enhancing training
[14:59] opportunities and engagement
[15:00] opportunities for tourism operators. Uh
[15:04] continuing with accommodation supply. Uh
[15:06] we know that we do not have enough fixed
[15:08] roof accommodation properties in the
[15:10] region. Um looking to attract investment
[15:13] from that perspective.
[15:14] Uh there is a huge opportunity to
[15:16] continue to build out um agritourism and
[15:19] culinary tourism experiences. Looking to
[15:22] support regional mobility and active
[15:23] transportation initiatives, and the
[15:25] destination stewardship and responsible
[15:27] tourism initiatives. And finally,
[15:30] we have been talking to many of the
[15:31] nations within the regional district,
[15:33] and there's some exciting partnership
[15:35] opportunities that we're exploring
[15:37] currently and hope to be able to move
[15:38] forward with in 2027 in partnership with
[15:41] those nations.
[15:43] And a few of the other tactics, so as
[15:45] I'd been hinting at,
[15:46] um we will be increasing the visitor
[15:49] center funding to a total of 150,000.
[15:53] Um it's currently at $50,000.
[15:55] And the OMF, which was formally known as
[15:59] OAP, um it's essentially Airbnb's,
[16:03] VRBO's, etc. Uh those funds will
[16:06] continue to be directed towards Cowichan
[16:08] Housing Association for affordable
[16:10] housing-related initiatives. And we're
[16:12] just in the process right now of
[16:14] finalizing um their their um
[16:17] work plan for what will happen with
[16:19] those funds, and that will be um shared
[16:21] out with all of the councils um upon
[16:23] completion by Cowichan Housing
[16:25] Association.
[16:28] So this is what we're anticipating in
[16:29] terms of the budget for 2027. The
[16:32] numbers don't align perfectly with the
[16:34] increase from 2 to 3% I shared at the
[16:36] start. The reason is that by the time
[16:38] 2027 uh by the time our MRDT renewal is
[16:41] complete and the increase moves to 3%,
[16:43] we won't have a full calendar year at
[16:45] 3%. It'll be a partial at 2. Um so this
[16:47] is our our best guess for what total
[16:49] revenues will look like. MRDT is from
[16:52] those fixed-roof kind of typical
[16:54] accommodation properties. There's
[16:55] funding from the regional district. And
[16:57] then we also have um the co-op program
[16:59] from Destination BC, which provides
[17:01] matching dollars for marketing
[17:02] initiatives, and a little bit of
[17:04] additional revenue from some other
[17:06] programs um
[17:07] for about a $1.47
[17:09] uh million dollar total budget. And that
[17:11] does not include the short-term rental
[17:13] money that goes through Cowichan
[17:14] Housing.
[17:17] And a little bit of a breakdown here, or
[17:20] sorry, it does include the 400,000 plus
[17:22] for affordable housing in those numbers
[17:25] with a kind of full breakdown here
[17:26] looking about 28% for marketing,
[17:29] an increase to 25% for destination
[17:31] development and experience development.
[17:34] A increase in visitor services from
[17:36] 50,000 to 150,
[17:39] a modest increase in admin costs, and
[17:42] the final number there, the 444 is a
[17:45] provincially mandated program.
[17:48] They basically at the Ministry of
[17:49] Finance just skim that off of the top
[17:51] before the funds go to the regional
[17:53] district. So that should be about $500
[17:55] give or take.
[17:57] And the plan is to have a very small
[17:59] carry forward at the end of the year.
[18:00] The goal is really always a zero-based
[18:02] budget.
[18:03] We try to budget conservatively and if
[18:06] revenues are going in the right
[18:07] direction, the board can look at
[18:09] adjusting some of its expenditures
[18:11] midway through the year.
[18:13] The final thing I just wanted to quickly
[18:14] mention is that
[18:16] around the need for increasing from 2%
[18:18] to 3%.
[18:20] So Tourism Cache Creek thankfully had a
[18:22] fairly significant amount of reserve
[18:24] funds. That was really accumulated
[18:26] through COVID when we weren't able to
[18:27] spend money on marketing initiatives and
[18:30] that's been really helpful to help us,
[18:32] you know, support visitor servicing,
[18:34] you know, continue with marketing and
[18:36] destination development, but we've been
[18:38] spending about $100,000 on a
[18:40] deficit budget of about 100,000 every
[18:42] year. And this was the last year that
[18:44] we're reasonably able to continue with
[18:46] that deficit spending while maintaining
[18:48] a healthy reserve in the event the
[18:50] organization needs to wind down or
[18:52] there's an unforeseen event. So without
[18:54] moving from the 2% to 3%, it makes it
[18:57] incredibly challenging for us to find a
[18:59] way of increasing funds for not just the
[19:02] visitor center, but for other programs
[19:04] that we have right now.
[19:06] So we're working really hard to get the
[19:08] accommodation properties on side with
[19:10] that increase from 2 to 3% we've
[19:12] launched that process and I'm hoping
[19:15] that we'll have a positive outcome
[19:16] there.
[19:17] In terms of next steps, we're presenting
[19:19] to councils right now looking to present
[19:21] to the regional district board shortly
[19:24] before elections with a final submission
[19:27] of the application in February.
[19:29] We've distributed our draft 5-year plan
[19:31] and tactical plan far and wide and we're
[19:33] currently receiving feedback on that
[19:36] from staff at local governments and
[19:37] regional districts as well as from
[19:39] operators.
[19:41] As I mentioned we're focused on
[19:42] collecting signatures from those
[19:43] operators, letters of support from
[19:45] councils and if all goes well it'll be
[19:48] submitted on October 1st which provides
[19:50] a healthy amount of buffer time to
[19:52] ensure that we receive approval from
[19:54] cabinet before the current repeal date.
[19:57] So I really appreciate the opportunity
[19:59] share that with all of you this evening
[20:00] and if appropriate I'm happy to answer
[20:01] any questions you might have as well.
[20:03] Thank you.
[20:05] >> Thank you so much. Looking to around the
[20:08] » Thank you so much. Looking to around the
[20:08] table for questions.
[20:11] No, you were so thorough that no one has
[20:12] a question for you. Oh, Councillor
[20:13] Bruce, go ahead.
[20:16] >> Thank you Mayor.
[20:17] » Thank you Mayor.
[20:17] Thank you very much for your
[20:19] presentation.
[20:20] Um
[20:21] I was just adding up the the wages and
[20:24] the um
[20:25] benefits and I just rough and ready got
[20:28] to around 200,000 and
[20:31] when there's more money coming in will
[20:33] that be going to administration
[20:36] or will that be going to programs and I
[20:38] know you covered some of that just now
[20:40] but it's a legitimate question and if so
[20:43] what percentage goes to administration?
[20:46] Um
[20:47] and the other thing I was just going to
[20:48] ask if you could answer the money that's
[20:51] generated in the Cowichan Valley
[20:54] that's
[20:55] does that stay here or does that go into
[20:57] a bigger pot?
[21:00] >> Okay, so I'll take that question on
[21:02] » Okay, so I'll take that question on
[21:02] first Councillor Bruce. So in terms of
[21:03] all of the revenue that's collected from
[21:05] short-term rentals as well as the formal
[21:08] accommodation properties across the
[21:09] regional district. Um about 99% of that
[21:13] comes back. Um there's a small fee of I
[21:16] believe it's $14 per hotel or motel that
[21:20] the Ministry of Finance collects. Um but
[21:22] other than that, everything goes to the
[21:24] regional district. They then provide
[21:26] that to Tourism Cowichan, and we have to
[21:29] provide, you know, thorough annual
[21:30] reporting on, you know, all of the
[21:32] expenditures associated with that. So,
[21:34] that's one of the great things about the
[21:35] program. Um the collection and the
[21:37] complexity of collecting that 2 or 3%
[21:40] from the operators is taken care of by
[21:41] the province in exchange for about a $14
[21:44] per property fee, and the rest comes
[21:46] back here.
[21:47] Um from an admin perspective, uh we
[21:50] budgeted for about a 7% increase in kind
[21:53] of those overhead-related expenses for
[21:55] 2027. Um that was based on some slightly
[21:59] just the general cost of of doing
[22:01] business, you know, including like IT
[22:03] costs and things like that. Um we
[22:05] generally try to keep the kind of admin
[22:07] and overhead um around that 20% mark. Um
[22:11] it's about as lean as we can be. The So,
[22:14] no, as a part of the increase from 2 to
[22:16] 3%, we wouldn't anticipate any
[22:18] significant increase in operating costs.
[22:21] Um especially with the lion's share of
[22:23] that increase being visitor center
[22:26] funding um to help the visitor centers
[22:28] deliver their programs.
[22:31] Yeah, my pleasure.
[22:32] >> Thank you very much. Any other
[22:33] » Thank you very much. Any other
[22:33] questions?
[22:35] Seeing none. Nope, thank you very much
[22:36] for your time with us this evening and
[22:38] for the work that you're doing.
[22:39] >> Thank you, I appreciate it. Take care,
[22:40] » Thank you, I appreciate it. Take care,
[22:40] everybody.
[22:43] » And I'm going to move to a motion that
[22:45] council provide a letter of support for
[22:47] the renewal and of the Cowichan Valley
[22:49] Regional District as a designated
[22:51] recipient of the Municipal Regional
[22:53] District Tax MRDT revenue within the
[22:55] CVRD
[22:57] for the period of July 1st, 2027 to July
[22:59] 1st, 2032.
[23:02] Is there a mover or a seconder for that?
[23:03] Any discussion on this motion? All those
[23:05] in favor?
[23:06] Motion carries. Thank you.
[23:08] Um, we'll move over to Staff Sergeant uh
[23:11] Perrett. Welcome.
[23:14] Did I say your last name correctly?
[23:16] >> Um
[23:18] » Um
[23:18] We have Perrett to mention to you his
[23:19] name.
[23:20] >> It depends on what you what you call
[23:22] » It depends on what you what you call
[23:22] yourself. Is it Perrett or Perrett?
[23:23] >> Perrett normally.
[23:24] » Perrett normally.
[23:24] >> Perrett? Okay. Well, welcome Sergeant
[23:26] » Perrett? Okay. Well, welcome Sergeant
[23:26] Staff Sergeant Perrett.
[23:28] And you're going over the RCMP annual
[23:30] performance plan with us.
[23:31] >> Yes. Thank you
[23:33] » Yes. Thank you
[23:33] uh Mayor Staples and council members.
[23:37] So, yes, as you stated, I'm here to
[23:40] give you an overview of what our annual
[23:41] performance plan is for 2026 and 2027.
[23:46] Um
[23:47] I prepared a bit of a slideshow just uh
[23:49] as a bit of a visual.
[23:51] Um
[23:53] Really, our annual performance plan
[23:56] isn't changed significantly from last
[23:57] year. We've just uh did some stream-
[24:00] line of reporting and uh realigned some
[24:02] of our initiatives. Uh
[24:05] A, to make it less onerous for data
[24:07] collection and and B, just to make sure
[24:10] we're capturing
[24:11] some things that we intend to do this
[24:13] year. So,
[24:14] um
[24:16] First off,
[24:17] our first objective is crime reduction.
[24:21] So, in the past, we've had bicycle
[24:23] patrols, uh
[24:24] downtown foot patrols, and uh engagement
[24:27] with the business community.
[24:29] Uh road safety including uh
[24:33] school zones and playground zones.
[24:35] Uh curfew checks and restorative justice
[24:38] referrals. So,
[24:39] all those initiatives were important,
[24:41] but this year
[24:43] uh we decided to take a little bit
[24:44] different focus. Uh in the the first
[24:46] quarter of 2026,
[24:49] we had a quite a significant increase in
[24:51] the number of calls for service relating
[24:53] to unwanted persons or unhoused
[24:55] individuals.
[24:57] Uh
[24:59] So, uh in the
[25:02] in recognizing that, we've been working
[25:04] closely with the local bylaw, including
[25:06] the city of Duncan bylaw, to come up
[25:08] with strategies in order to
[25:11] uh
[25:12] reduce the the strain on the the
[25:14] business community with these types of
[25:16] calls and to reduce the the strain on
[25:19] the local detachment with this type of
[25:23] occurrence. So, um
[25:26] So, rather than just having
[25:28] bike patrols and foot patrols in itself,
[25:31] we chose to we're going to focus
[25:33] specifically on uh some joint patrols
[25:36] that we're going to do with the local
[25:37] bylaw.
[25:39] Uh so, we hope you know, at least a
[25:41] couple times a week to have an RCMP
[25:43] member paired up with a bylaw officer.
[25:45] So, uh
[25:47] you know, instead of having one team, we
[25:48] can have two. And we can uh
[25:52] address some of these community safety
[25:54] issues
[25:55] uh together. And so,
[25:59] so, one of our initiatives this year is
[26:01] to collect data from those patrols and
[26:05] hopefully, you know, by the end of the
[26:06] year, compare that to our statistics and
[26:08] see that there has been a downward trend
[26:10] in this area.
[26:12] Uh
[26:13] road safety is still a priority. Uh we
[26:15] just um
[26:17] uh
[26:18] combined all our traffic initiatives
[26:20] into one rather than having it broke
[26:21] down into different compartments.
[26:24] Um in this fall, we're going to be uh
[26:27] rolling out a mental health liaison
[26:29] position at the detachment. Uh we've
[26:32] been working with VIHA to uh obtain a a
[26:36] mental health nurse. So, that person's
[26:38] been identified.
[26:40] We're still working on identifying the
[26:42] individual from the local detachment.
[26:43] So, they'll work as a team
[26:45] and um
[26:48] deal with a lot of our mental
[26:49] health-related calls. So, we want to
[26:51] track that and see how effective that is
[26:53] over the the next year.
[26:55] Uh
[26:56] restorative justice
[26:58] that's uh important program for our
[27:00] detachment, so that that remains
[27:02] unchanged.
[27:03] And um
[27:06] we're going to deal with uh
[27:07] priority offender management. So,
[27:10] um some may be
[27:12] familiar with the Revo program, the
[27:14] repeat violent offender program. So, the
[27:17] provincial government has secured
[27:18] funding for a new program this year
[27:21] related to property offenders.
[27:23] So, uh
[27:26] locally uh
[27:27] and that program still under
[27:28] development, so it's not actually up and
[27:30] running in the the South Island just
[27:33] yet, but
[27:34] when that gets up and running, we want
[27:35] to be able to track how many charges
[27:36] we're getting against those offenders
[27:38] and so we can kind of
[27:40] get a local barometer on on how
[27:42] effective it is locally. So,
[27:48] uh our second objective
[27:50] providing leadership and governance.
[27:53] Um
[27:55] that's largely unchanged other than
[27:57] we've just changed our reporting a
[27:59] little bit. Um
[28:01] we find that we're having some
[28:02] duplication reporting throughout our
[28:05] our data collection, so we just
[28:08] rejig that a little bit, so that's
[28:10] relatively unchanged.
[28:13] Uh the third objective is employee
[28:15] wellness and respect.
[28:17] Last year we chose to focus on
[28:19] supervisor development and leadership
[28:21] development.
[28:22] Uh we're still doing that this year, but
[28:24] we've added a component in terms of
[28:26] employee wellness and team building
[28:28] exercises. So, we want to track those
[28:30] types of
[28:32] initiatives, whether it's um
[28:34] you know, fitness related or mental
[28:35] health related. So, that's we decided to
[28:38] include that
[28:39] as well.
[28:42] Um
[28:45] and
[28:47] the fourth initiative
[28:49] doesn't pertain to the the city of
[28:51] Duncan directly. It's it's uh directly
[28:53] related to Cowichan Tribes. And with
[28:56] that, we've just uh
[28:58] changed our reporting a little bit for
[28:59] the year. So,
[29:01] uh
[29:02] I know I was quick.
[29:04] Hoping not to take up a ton of your
[29:05] time, but that's really the overview. Um
[29:09] Like I said, our
[29:11] our annual performance plan's relatively
[29:12] unchanged. We just did a little bit of
[29:14] rejigging this year. So,
[29:16] uh
[29:17] we're hoping
[29:18] um
[29:19] that uh you know Mayor and Council will
[29:22] will approve this and
[29:24] and um
[29:25] we'll move forward. So, I mean, we just
[29:27] concluded quarter one of our fiscal
[29:29] year. So, uh Staff Sergeant Ken Beard
[29:32] will be reporting on that in the coming
[29:34] weeks.
[29:35] Uh so, thus far, we think we're off to a
[29:37] good start in terms of our
[29:39] meeting our goals and objectives for
[29:41] this year.
[29:43] Um
[29:45] Does anybody have any questions
[29:46] regarding
[29:47] the annual performance plan?
[29:49] >> Thank you.
[29:50] » Thank you.
[29:50] Councilor Duncan.
[29:52] >> Uh thank you, Your Worship.
[29:54] » Uh thank you, Your Worship.
[29:54] And thank [clears throat] you for the
[29:55] report. Um just a question around the
[29:58] prolific property offenders. Um in the
[30:01] past, we've sort of heard that Crown uh
[30:04] is reluctant to proceed on some charges.
[30:07] Uh
[30:08] you know, will this result in someone
[30:09] that's, for example, been caught three
[30:12] times in a day shoplifting? Will they be
[30:14] kept in jail until they
[30:16] until they actually go to court? That's
[30:18] one question. And the other question
[30:21] would be on the new mental health
[30:23] liaison officer. Is that Is that set up
[30:25] to speed up the process if if uh someone
[30:29] is picked up and is going to be referred
[30:31] to mental health?
[30:32] Is that You know, we heard sometimes
[30:34] that the police cars would sit at the
[30:35] hospital for two or three hours. Is this
[30:38] going to help speed that up?
[30:47] » Okay.
[30:49] First question regarding the the C Point
[30:51] program,
[30:52] that remains to be seen, but much like
[30:54] for the violent offenders
[30:58] repeat property offenders
[31:01] it's meant to be more onerous for them
[31:03] to get bail and
[31:06] thus if they're held in custody
[31:08] before trial um
[31:12] you know, the opportunity to commit
[31:13] further property crime is obviously
[31:15] removed.
[31:16] um
[31:18] But that
[31:20] is largely at the police hands. That
[31:21] would be up to the the Crown to pursue
[31:23] that.
[31:24] But
[31:27] and it doesn't just pertain to like
[31:30] shoplifter types. Like
[31:32] you know, we have one individual in our
[31:33] community
[31:34] isn't committing a lot of theft, but you
[31:36] know, they have significant mental
[31:38] health challenges, but
[31:40] they're often downtown with weapons and
[31:42] acting in a threatening manner and they
[31:44] don't actually hurt anybody. So they
[31:46] wouldn't qualify under the Revo, the
[31:47] violent offender program. But it's a lot
[31:50] of mischief related calls and and it's a
[31:52] public safety issue and this person
[31:55] generates a lot of calls for service.
[31:58] um you know, and there's a mental health
[31:59] component, so we take him to the
[32:01] hospital for assessment and so it eats
[32:04] up a lot of VR resources. So uh
[32:07] we're hoping that that this type of
[32:09] program
[32:10] we can target them cuz really they need
[32:12] to get into your court
[32:15] um
[32:17] ordered treatment program to break that
[32:20] cycle. So
[32:21] uh so that's
[32:24] one type of individual that'd be
[32:26] captured with this program. uh
[32:29] Yes, some of our chronic shoplifters.
[32:31] um
[32:35] Yeah, I mean
[32:36] it's largely in Crown's hands whether
[32:39] they're successful again the person I
[32:41] detained for trial.
[32:42] In my experience, it's generally harder
[32:45] to get property offenders detained until
[32:47] trial compared to violent offenders.
[32:50] But, um
[32:51] so the program still in the infancy.
[32:53] There's been a couple of meetings now
[32:54] and our detachment and other detachments
[32:57] South Island were just working through
[32:59] trying to identify our first few
[33:01] candidates. So,
[33:03] um in the first round
[33:05] this area may not even get a candidate
[33:07] or it may just get one, but it's it's
[33:09] going to be a kind of a a staggered
[33:10] approach.
[33:12] Um
[33:13] to me that's a So, hopefully that answer
[33:15] your question. That's really the best I
[33:16] can offer.
[33:17] Um
[33:18] I can't really speak on behalf of Crown
[33:20] Counsel, but that's the intention of the
[33:22] program anyways.
[33:24] Uh part two regarding mental health.
[33:28] Um
[33:29] you know, over the the past short while
[33:32] we have worked really hard with the
[33:34] hospital to try and reduce those wait
[33:36] times and and so we have developed
[33:38] strategies.
[33:40] We're much better here than
[33:42] other places. I I know of other
[33:43] detachments.
[33:45] Police officers are still waiting 4 or 5
[33:47] hours before the doctor. Generally
[33:49] [snorts] here we're only about an hour.
[33:50] So, we we've really worked on that, but
[33:53] um obviously there's still room for
[33:55] improvements. So, that would be
[33:56] something that the mental health liaison
[33:58] officer
[33:59] works on, but really it's to
[34:02] to take those calls for service off the
[34:05] hands of the other officers. And we last
[34:07] year we had almost 1,500
[34:09] mental health related calls.
[34:12] So, we average almost four per day.
[34:15] So, um you know, mental health liaison
[34:18] officer, they're not going to be working
[34:19] 7 days a week
[34:20] and they're not going to be working 24
[34:22] hours a day, but you know, with their
[34:24] schedule we're hoping that they can at
[34:25] least take two a day, one to two a day.
[34:29] So,
[34:30] uh take half those off our hands
[34:32] and
[34:34] um,
[34:35] and a lot of times I mean we don't have
[34:36] specialized training
[34:39] for mental health related issues. So,
[34:42] um, you know, if somebody is presenting
[34:44] as a danger to themselves or others, we
[34:46] take them for assessment at the
[34:47] hospital. But by pairing a police
[34:49] officer with somebody that does have
[34:51] that training,
[34:52] they're
[34:53] likely
[34:55] and I say likely because it's worked in
[34:57] other jurisdictions, but we likely will
[34:58] have less instances where we have to
[35:00] take people to the hospital. Uh,
[35:03] they'll have the mental health nurse
[35:05] will have access to much more detailed
[35:07] medical records for that individual. So,
[35:10] working together as a team, they can
[35:11] come up with a better plan. So, so we're
[35:13] hoping A, overall reduce the number
[35:16] of times we have to take somebody to the
[35:17] hospital and reduce overall calls for
[35:19] service
[35:21] because when this liaison officer isn't
[35:24] responding to mental health calls, they
[35:26] can take a more proactive approach. We
[35:29] generally have
[35:31] two or three at any given time are our
[35:33] most prolific mental health clients and
[35:38] um,
[35:40] you know, it becomes a revolving door
[35:41] where we take them up to the hospital.
[35:43] They may be there a short time, they may
[35:44] not get admitted and they're released.
[35:46] So, again, by working with somebody who
[35:48] has that level of expertise in dealing
[35:50] with mental health,
[35:52] we may be able to develop strategies
[35:55] outside of enforcement in order to
[35:58] perhaps break that cycle and
[36:01] um, you know, one individual I can think
[36:03] of is an adult now,
[36:05] but
[36:06] uh,
[36:07] really they need support from Community
[36:08] Living BC. So, as an example, they this
[36:12] team could work with Community Living
[36:14] Community Living BC to develop a
[36:16] strategy
[36:17] so we're not getting, you know, three
[36:20] calls a week from this individual, three
[36:22] to four
[36:23] calls per week. So,
[36:28] » Um, other questions from council
[36:30] members?
[36:31] Councilor Bruce.
[36:35] » Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, thank
[36:37] you
[36:38] for your presentation. Um,
[36:41] uh, not on this report, but uh,
[36:44] do we have nearly a full complement of
[36:46] officers in the detachment yet?
[36:49] Are we or do you know that?
[36:52] >> We're We're much better off. Um,
[36:56] » We're We're much better off. Um,
[36:56] we've been working closely with staffing
[36:59] and
[37:00] we're in a much better place than we
[37:01] were, say, 6 months ago.
[37:05] Like, when I was talking earlier about
[37:06] doing the bike patrols, um,
[37:09] you know, over the last 6 months, we've
[37:11] had a disband our community safety unit,
[37:13] which did the bulk of the bike bike
[37:15] patrols.
[37:16] And, uh, we've also had to collapse one
[37:20] other unit, our investigative support
[37:22] unit, uh, just to keep enough boots on
[37:24] the ground to
[37:26] do frontline policing. When somebody
[37:27] calls 911, just make sure that there's
[37:29] somebody there at the end to answer the
[37:30] call. So,
[37:32] uh,
[37:33] you know, we've had
[37:36] uh,
[37:37] five or
[37:40] Well, five cadets in the last 6 months.
[37:43] And we've had some more seasoned
[37:45] officers transfer in, so
[37:47] I we probably got about uh, eight or
[37:51] nine new officers in the last 6 months.
[37:53] So, yeah, we're in a much better place.
[37:55] We're still
[37:56] not where we want to be, but um,
[38:00] we've brought most of our
[38:02] hard vacancies covered now, which actual
[38:06] uh, vacant positions, but our soft
[38:09] vacancies where people are off for a
[38:10] variety of reasons, whether it could be
[38:13] parental leave or, um,
[38:15] you know, a non-duty injury or we've
[38:17] still got a fair number off for that.
[38:20] So,
[38:22] we're getting there. We're We're better.
[38:23] We're better than off than we were at 6
[38:25] months ago, so that's
[38:29] You're welcome. Other questions?
[38:30] Councillor Newton, go ahead.
[38:32] >> Hi. Thank you very much for your report.
[38:35] » Hi. Thank you very much for your report.
[38:35] Could you explain a little bit what
[38:38] >> [clears throat]
[38:38] » [clears throat]
[38:38] >> the community safety unit was?
[38:41] » the community safety unit was?
[38:42] >> [snorts]
[38:42] » [snorts]
[38:42] >> So, the community [clears throat] safety
[38:43] » So, the community [clears throat] safety
[38:43] unit would have been the officers you
[38:45] see on bicycles a lot of time. Uh
[38:48] mainly they work in the corridor area.
[38:51] Uh so, I'm sure all aware, but you know,
[38:54] from
[38:55] Drinkwater to
[38:57] say uh
[38:58] Boys Road and then downtown Duncan. So,
[39:00] that's that's where they spend the bulk
[39:02] of their time.
[39:03] Um
[39:05] last year they spent a lot of time just
[39:07] patrolling
[39:08] York and Lewis area and and
[39:11] and North Cowichan
[39:13] um
[39:13] because of the
[39:15] the
[39:16] uh
[39:17] tent city that it popped up along Lewis
[39:19] Street, but
[39:20] um
[39:21] so, they're there to
[39:24] uh they do all kinds of proactive
[39:26] enforcement. Like sometimes they'll
[39:28] hop in and they'll do a bunch of curfew
[39:30] checks to make sure that people are
[39:32] abiding by curfews.
[39:34] Um you know, they
[39:35] may take a bunch of files where there's
[39:37] outstanding warrants for people's arrest
[39:39] and they'll go around and try and affect
[39:41] a lot of those arrests.
[39:43] Uh
[39:44] like I mentioned earlier, they work
[39:46] closely with bylaw
[39:47] uh to address like the unhoused types of
[39:50] issues in the in the downtown.
[39:53] Um
[39:54] >> [clears throat]
[39:54] » [clears throat]
[39:54] >> and
[39:55] » and
[39:56] they're there to support us. I mean,
[39:57] you know, if the the general duty
[39:59] officers are are tied up, they'll help
[40:02] out with any calls that may come in
[40:05] during the or in the the corridor area
[40:09] as well, so so they they cover a lot of
[40:11] areas, but and they're also a lot of
[40:12] community engagement like
[40:14] if there is events at schools, um you
[40:17] know, they'll go there and deliver
[40:19] presentations at schools or do bike
[40:20] rodeos at elementary schools and that
[40:22] type of thing. So, they have a pretty
[40:24] broad mandate, cover a lot of community
[40:26] policing and proactive type of work.
[40:32] » Um, so sadly, if that unit is now
[40:35] disbanded, um,
[40:37] the that work that you've just described
[40:40] is now falling on the active officers.
[40:43] Is that correct?
[40:44] >> Yes, but um, our our staffing levels
[40:48] » Yes, but um, our our staffing levels
[40:48] since they've improved, uh,
[40:51] we're going to start staffing up that
[40:52] unit starting the beginning of August
[40:54] here. So,
[40:55] uh,
[40:57] that unit used to be four.
[41:00] Uh, it's still a four-person unit, but
[41:02] we pieced off one of the the positions
[41:04] to create this mental health-related
[41:06] liaison. So, they'll still report to the
[41:08] same supervisor.
[41:11] Um,
[41:13] and the thing is like so much of what we
[41:15] deal with downtown,
[41:17] it's mental health-related, right? So,
[41:18] really they can work hand-in-hand, but
[41:22] uh, so there'll be a corporal and two
[41:24] constables
[41:26] left to to do the the bike patrols.
[41:29] So, we'll have the corporal in place
[41:30] here at the beginning of August and
[41:31] we're hoping by the end of August to
[41:33] have the two constable positions back.
[41:36] Um,
[41:37] away from their secondment back into
[41:39] their substantive role
[41:41] and um,
[41:42] out there
[41:44] pedaling around.
[41:48] » Any other questions from council?
[41:52] Uh, thank you for your report and for
[41:55] coming here today. And one of the things
[41:57] I did get to go out on a um,
[42:00] for a night with the community Is it the
[42:03] the Sorry, can you remind me of the name
[42:05] again of that
[42:07] >> Community Safety Unit.
[42:08] » Community Safety Unit.
[42:08] >> the Community Safety Unit
[42:09] » the Community Safety Unit
[42:09] uh, last summer, I believe, or last
[42:12] spring. And what I noticed is a lot of
[42:14] what you're saying right now, that
[42:16] essentially our our
[42:18] we're paying our police force to manage
[42:21] a situation that isn't being managed
[42:23] around poverty, mental health,
[42:26] and
[42:27] um
[42:28] that that is the majority of your time
[42:29] is being
[42:31] taken up by what other systems are
[42:33] failing to actually provide for people.
[42:35] And so and then we're putting it all
[42:38] under crime.
[42:39] And
[42:41] when I went out that night, the thing I
[42:43] was I think I went out for a 10 to 12
[42:45] hours, and what shocked me was that
[42:50] it wasn't like going to police calls
[42:52] when you watch TV
[42:54] at all.
[42:55] >> certainly isn't.
[42:56] » certainly isn't.
[42:56] >> What it was was going to um calls the
[42:59] » What it was was going to um calls the
[42:59] majority of the calls were people living
[43:01] in poverty with addiction, um
[43:05] with mental health challenges in a
[43:06] system that has no space for them. And
[43:08] you're just trying to to manage it the
[43:10] best that you can. And that's what I
[43:12] experienced when I went out. I I was
[43:15] asked to come out again, but then they
[43:16] they did disband, and I would love the
[43:18] opportunity to go out again with you in
[43:20] the fall.
[43:21] Um but I found that so incredibly
[43:24] disheartening and not at all what your
[43:28] job should be. Those jobs should be
[43:30] dealt with by other professionals and
[43:33] other support services that are lacking
[43:34] in our system.
[43:38] » Yeah, unfortunately, it's it's uh not a
[43:42] a
[43:43] ideal situation.
[43:45] Um
[43:46] you know, this hasn't necessarily
[43:48] address the the issue, but
[43:50] uh I know like the the first 3 months of
[43:53] this year, we're averaging 9 1/2 calls
[43:57] per day related to the unhoused. And so
[44:01] um
[44:02] you know, like I mentioned earlier,
[44:03] we've been working closely
[44:05] with community partners, including
[44:08] your your bylaw
[44:09] office and
[44:11] uh
[44:11] happy to say for the second quarter of
[44:13] this year,
[44:14] we're down to about um
[44:17] a little under five and a half calls per
[44:19] day. So, we've done a lot of work to try
[44:21] and reduce the calls for service. Hasn't
[44:23] necessarily made the issue go away, but
[44:26] you know, we've tried other strategies
[44:27] to reduce
[44:30] uh at least the burden on on your
[44:33] your first responders on your bylaw and
[44:35] your local police. So.
[44:38] >> Thank you.
[44:40] » Thank you.
[44:40] Uh we have a motion that council support
[44:42] the 2026-2027
[44:44] North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP Detachment
[44:46] Annual Performance Plan as presented on
[44:48] July 27th, 2026. Do I have a mover and a
[44:50] seconder?
[44:51] Any further discussion? All those in
[44:53] favor?
[44:55] Thank you very much for your
[44:56] presentation, and I look forward to
[44:59] hearing back from someone about being
[45:01] able to go out again.
[45:04] » Thank you, Worship, and thank you,
[45:06] council members.
[45:11] » And Mr. De Verteuil, over to you. Report
[45:13] of the Chief Administrative Officer for
[45:15] July 27th.
[45:18] >> Thank you, Mayor Staples.
[45:19] » Thank you, Mayor Staples.
[45:19] Uh so, the Eagle Heights Reservoir
[45:22] replacement, the old reservoir tank has
[45:24] now been demolished, so they're just
[45:25] cleaning that uh site up and I'm final
[45:28] finalizing up that project. The
[45:30] unfortunately for the Gibbons Reservoir
[45:32] relining, due to water restrictions now,
[45:35] and it's still finalizing the fixes, the
[45:37] contractor will work to address the
[45:39] outstanding issues in the closer to the
[45:40] fall.
[45:42] Uh reservoir may need to be drained
[45:43] again to do that final work.
[45:46] The project for the Coronation and Queen
[45:48] Street 70 bike lanes is now
[45:50] largely complete.
[45:52] The I'm happy to report that the Canada
[45:55] Avenue
[45:56] um
[45:56] complete streets is is well underway.
[45:58] The the one uh
[46:00] um
[46:01] bugaboo seems to continually be the
[46:02] speed limits on Iley, so we we have
[46:04] ordered another uh speed reader board
[46:06] for Iley Street to help with traffic
[46:08] speeds northbound.
[46:09] And the RCMP continue to attend to uh
[46:12] Iley Street periodically.
[46:14] Uh just a reminder that project's going
[46:16] to continue on until in into 2027.
[46:21] Happy to report as well that uh
[46:23] thanks to the work of Relic staff, we've
[46:25] finally got the Couch and Way traffic
[46:27] signals operating more along the lines
[46:29] of how they should. The new timing
[46:31] schedules uh by Relic have been
[46:32] implemented and the lights now utilize
[46:34] the traffic loops,
[46:35] uh which decreases time allocated to
[46:37] particular legs of the intersection if
[46:39] there's there's no traffic or little
[46:41] traffic for that uh leg. So, it'll go
[46:43] down to as little as 10 seconds if
[46:45] there's
[46:46] if there's only a couple of cars as
[46:47] opposed to the full 30 seconds of a
[46:49] loop.
[46:50] Uh big thanks to uh Bob Bob Griffin from
[46:52] Relic who who actually came back out of
[46:54] retirement to make sure to take that one
[46:55] across the finish line, so that was
[46:56] terrific.
[46:58] Uh construction for Hether's Street
[47:00] water main, still looking to finalize
[47:02] the details of that, so that's going to
[47:03] push into the fall of this year.
[47:06] Uh we have now installed staff have
[47:07] installed two transit compliant speed
[47:10] humps on uh Warrencliff Road, and the
[47:12] res- residents have already been
[47:14] indicating they've they've assisted in
[47:16] reducing speeds in their neighborhood.
[47:21] The zoning bylaw amendment for 521
[47:24] Canada Avenue, which was for the
[47:26] to permit cannabis retail on the
[47:28] property for the location where they're
[47:30] currently operating with a temporary use
[47:32] permit, that's anticipated to come
[47:33] forward to council at your August uh
[47:36] 24th meeting.
[47:38] Notices will be out in the paper
[47:39] relatively soon on that.
[47:42] 2026 property tax notices, so the tax
[47:45] payments and homeowner grants claimed
[47:46] were due by
[47:48] July 2nd. So, if property taxes remained
[47:50] unpaid after that date, uh 5% penalty
[47:53] was applied to those outstanding
[47:54] balances, and uh a second 5% penalty
[47:57] would be added to any remaining balance
[47:59] unpaid after 5 4:00 p.m. on September
[48:02] 1st. So, encourage folks to
[48:04] get those um
[48:06] uh dealt with.
[48:08] Just a few last ones. The we are looking
[48:12] to now plan uh the community community
[48:15] uh um event with with Cowichan Tribes uh
[48:18] through the grant funding we got through
[48:20] UBCM. That'll be placed uh
[48:22] you know, on council's uh event
[48:25] after the election now.
[48:28] The
[48:29] uh we're happy to report as touched on
[48:31] by um
[48:33] Staff Sergeant Perrault there that the
[48:35] the as part of the community safety
[48:36] advocacy strategy that the city had been
[48:39] uh lobbying for uh province-wide
[48:40] implementation of that C-POI program for
[48:42] the prolific property offenders and
[48:44] we're very pleased to see that being
[48:46] being implemented province-wide now. So,
[48:48] we we may look to see council withdraw
[48:51] the resolution that was going to UBCM uh
[48:53] this coming September since since now
[48:56] that that's largely been addressed.
[48:59] Um also on the provincial advocacy front
[49:02] uh as you may recall council met with uh
[49:05] with Brittney Anderson, Minister of
[49:07] State for local government in July to
[49:09] discuss support for the village model
[49:11] and corresponding uh long-term funding
[49:13] commitment for that model,
[49:15] uh establishment of a recovery oriented
[49:18] village site uh which would require a
[49:20] policy of exemption exemption by the
[49:22] province,
[49:23] and also some short-medium term uh
[49:26] that we discussed about potential
[49:27] regional highway safety improvements,
[49:29] particularly on the Trans-Canada
[49:30] Highway.
[49:31] Um
[49:32] uh that that that are sort of some
[49:34] potential low-hanging fruit.
[49:36] Uh
[49:37] last couple, the cenotaph refurbishment,
[49:39] the our Royal Canadian Legion, uh now
[49:42] the Chemainus Duncan branch, was
[49:44] successful in its grant application to
[49:46] the Veterans Affairs Canada for
[49:48] commemorative partnership program and is
[49:51] now proceeding with refurbishments to
[49:52] the cenotaph in the Charles Hoey Park.
[49:55] They're they're hoping we're planning on
[49:57] getting that done and completed by
[49:58] Remembrance Day.
[50:00] The clan of clan totem of our nations
[50:04] that was carved by Tommy Hunt that has
[50:06] been refurbished by Mr. Hunt and was
[50:09] reinstalled in Friendship Square
[50:11] July 14th.
[50:13] And lastly, the city has received a
[50:15] liquor primary club license for the
[50:18] Couch and Lawn Bowling Club to permit
[50:21] the club to serve alcohol to club
[50:23] members and their guests at the
[50:24] clubhouse 320 First Street in the next
[50:27] to the park. Public notice will go out
[50:30] this week to properties within a 100
[50:31] meter radius and council consider that
[50:33] application on August 24th.
[50:36] That's it.
[50:48] » Cuz it was already on.
[50:50] Thank you so much. See it's the opposite
[50:51] of the CVRD now when it's
[50:54] it's opposite. It's the colors are
[50:57] wrong.
[50:58] So now I'm doing it here the opposite
[51:00] way of there.
[51:01] Thank you for your report. Are there any
[51:03] questions or comments for Mr. de
[51:05] Verteuil this evening?
[51:07] Oh, we got hands. Hands to my left.
[51:10] Councillor Newington.
[51:13] » I just want to go back to 490 Ipray
[51:17] and if there's has been any movements I
[51:20] asked this
[51:22] as couple of the neighbors have asked me
[51:25] what is happening.
[51:30] Mr. Young, do you know?
[51:39] » Um yeah, so so we do have a building
[51:42] permit application for that development
[51:44] and we provided
[51:46] uh back to the applicant and I think
[51:47] it's been about a year now that the
[51:49] applicant's been sitting on that
[51:50] information.
[51:51] Um and
[51:53] our understanding is the applicant is
[51:55] working to address those deficiencies in
[51:57] the application and get to the point
[51:58] where we can issue the permit, um which
[52:00] we think will happen by the end of this
[52:02] year.
[52:07] » Councilor McKinley.
[52:10] >> Regarding the refurbishment of the
[52:11] » Regarding the refurbishment of the
[52:11] cenotaph, did they mention if they were
[52:14] going to add names, do you know of?
[52:17] >> Uh I don't recall if Tommy had. I can
[52:19] » Uh I don't recall if Tommy had. I can
[52:19] check into that and and let you guys
[52:20] know.
[52:24] » Councilor Duncan.
[52:26] >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh
[52:28] » Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh
[52:28] just to go back to the community safety
[52:31] advocacy advocacy strategy, you
[52:34] mentioned that we may withdraw the
[52:36] provincial wide expansion of the chronic
[52:39] property and public disorder
[52:40] intervention initiative.
[52:43] Um I would
[52:44] ask that we don't withdraw that. Uh we
[52:47] have yet to see how Crown counsel is
[52:49] going to react uh to that. So, I think
[52:53] that we have to keep I guess you would
[52:55] say someone's feet to the fire here and
[52:58] keep that resolution on the books. So,
[53:00] so so so that we can find out what's
[53:02] going on with Crown because no point in
[53:04] passing prolific offender stuff if
[53:08] Crown counsel isn't going to come to the
[53:10] party.
[53:13] » Uh
[53:14] yes, it's up to council. In fact, I
[53:16] think it's too late to remove it. It's
[53:18] just a bit would be an act on the floor
[53:20] at UBCM to to let them know that we we
[53:23] we withdraw um at that time. It's not I
[53:26] believe we can check into that, but I
[53:27] don't believe it's something we need to
[53:30] advise in advance. It's just on the
[53:32] um aspect of Crown, the the program
[53:34] itself adds resources to Crown. That's
[53:38] the that's how the the violent offender
[53:40] program works as well, so they give
[53:41] Crown some additional resources and
[53:43] capacity um so that they can focus on
[53:47] the repeat offenders first uh in the
[53:49] original program with the violent
[53:51] offenders. And now with this one, my
[53:53] understanding of that if initially a
[53:55] pilot and now intended to be rolled out
[53:58] um
[53:59] uh province-wide and in process of doing
[54:01] so as as um Staff Sergeant Pratt talked
[54:04] about uh that would be again with the
[54:06] intent of adding that capacity for Crown
[54:09] to be able to focus on those particular
[54:12] offenders because the part of it is that
[54:14] they are um handed a a case file and by
[54:17] having less case files in general,
[54:19] they're able to stay focused on those
[54:20] ones and and see them through as opposed
[54:23] to normally, as we've heard from from
[54:25] some representatives of Crown Counsel in
[54:27] the past, they're spread so thin that
[54:30] they do have to, you know, triage which
[54:31] ones that they're focusing on. But with
[54:33] this particular program,
[54:35] uh jurisdictions like ours and
[54:37] all across the province are able to put
[54:39] forward names of the the most
[54:42] frequent flyers and be able to address
[54:44] those directly. So, but we can certainly
[54:46] wait and see and then, you know, we can
[54:48] make that call at the time.
[54:52] » Thank you. Any other hands? Any other
[54:54] questions? Going once, going twice.
[54:57] Thank you so much for your report.
[54:59] So, I'll move that Council receive the
[55:01] July 27th, 2026 report of the Chief
[55:03] Administrative Officer for information
[55:05] only. Do we have a mover and a seconder
[55:07] for that? Any discussion? All those in
[55:09] favor? Motion carried.
[55:12] And we'll move to the Eagle Heights Fire
[55:14] Services agreement. And Mr. De Verteuil,
[55:16] you are on this one as well.
[55:19] >> Thank you. So, the this uh is an update
[55:21] » Thank you. So, the this uh is an update
[55:21] to a contract that uh had previously the
[55:24] the past contract had been in place
[55:25] since 2003.
[55:28] Um so, for the past 23 years under this
[55:30] contract, the city has uh serviced the
[55:32] Eagle Heights uh service area within the
[55:34] regional district. Uh
[55:36] the city, I'm told, has serviced that
[55:38] area for fire protection for around
[55:40] somewhere around 50 years in total.
[55:42] Uh, but that this past contract, which
[55:44] is obviously quite dated now being 23
[55:46] years old, has um it just needed a
[55:48] refresh. So, the approach is largely the
[55:51] same on how the cost sharing works with
[55:53] the respect to it being based on
[55:54] assessment. But, uh just improves or
[55:57] clarifies language in some service
[55:59] aspects and um
[56:01] and just, you know, modernizes the
[56:03] language, if you will, for the most
[56:04] part. So, overall, it's it's it's just a
[56:07] continuation of service. Uh, we do uh in
[56:09] this one, one of the major changes is
[56:12] that we we will do some assistance on
[56:14] the fire investigations uh and on the
[56:17] fire inspections. Fire inspections in
[56:19] the real regional district is a little
[56:20] different than the in the municipality.
[56:23] Municipalities are required to have a
[56:24] system of fire inspections. In the
[56:26] regional district, it's on a complaint
[56:28] basis, so it's not a re-owners owner
[56:30] onerous requirement to provide that uh
[56:33] on a limited basis when the when the
[56:35] time arises. And we do have to do
[56:36] pre-fire plans within that area anyway,
[56:38] so we we are off we'll be often in those
[56:41] buildings already, so.
[56:44] » Thank you so much. Are there any
[56:45] questions on this for Mr. Doratty? So,
[56:48] the council authorize mayor and chief
[56:49] administrative officer to sign the fire
[56:52] service agreement with the Cowichan
[56:53] Valley Regional District as attached to
[56:55] the July 27, 2026 report of the CAO to
[56:58] provide fire services to the Eagle
[57:00] Heights area for a 5-year term
[57:02] commencing June 1st, 2026 and ending
[57:04] June 1st,
[57:05] 2031. Mover and a seconder? Any further
[57:08] discussion? All those in favor? Motion
[57:11] carries.
[57:12] Thank you.
[57:14] And we'll move to the grant application
[57:15] to the Build Communities Strong Fund.
[57:17] And that one is over to you, Mr. Young.
[57:19] Welcome. You don't sit up here that
[57:21] often. It's good to actually be able to
[57:22] see you.
[57:23] >> It's an honor.
[57:26] » It's an honor.
[57:26] Uh, thank you, Mayor Lefebure.
[57:28] >> Uh,
[57:28] » Uh,
[57:28] the primary purpose of this report is to
[57:31] seek council support for a grant
[57:33] application to the federal Build
[57:35] Community Strong Fund, the Local Impact
[57:38] Stream, which is being administered
[57:39] through Pacific Can.
[57:41] The Pacific Economic Development Canada
[57:44] agency
[57:45] uh for the Third Street Renewal Project.
[57:48] In general terms, the renewal project is
[57:51] uh a complete reconstruction of Third
[57:53] Street from Canada Ave to Centennial
[57:56] Park, including replacement of
[57:58] underground utilities, as well as new
[58:01] paving, sidewalks, street trees, uh
[58:03] street lights in general terms.
[58:06] Uh
[58:07] the project
[58:08] is and and has been for a number of
[58:10] years partially funded uh in the in the
[58:13] capital plan. There's a shortfall of
[58:17] approximately 1.5 million dollars, and
[58:20] staff are recommending that an
[58:22] additional uh
[58:24] approximately 450,000 be funded from the
[58:27] Housing Accelerator Fund, as well as the
[58:31] uh 1 million-dollar grant from the Build
[58:34] Communities Strong Fund if we're
[58:35] successful.
[58:37] I'm happy to answer any questions
[58:38] council might have.
[58:42] » Thank you so much. Are there questions
[58:44] from council?
[58:46] I'm going to go over to you this time
[58:48] first. No, you go ahead, Councillor
[58:50] Duncan. It's okay.
[58:52] It's all fair to go.
[58:55] >> Okay, now I almost forgot what I was
[58:57] » Okay, now I almost forgot what I was
[58:57] going to ask. Uh
[58:59] just
[59:01] what when is the grant application
[59:03] period open to close?
[59:08] » Um from what we can tell on on the
[59:10] information online, it's it's the grant
[59:13] will just remain open um until the funds
[59:15] are fully allocated, and they anticipate
[59:19] making funding decisions as applications
[59:21] are received. So, the earlier we get the
[59:23] application in, the better.
[59:27] » Councillor Newington, that was your
[59:28] question? Oh, look at that.
[59:31] Go ahead.
[59:33] Councilor McKinley.
[59:34] >> I just have one question.
[59:36] » I just have one question.
[59:36] Are you taking everything that's in the
[59:37] ground out and replacing it or cuz we're
[59:41] not going to leave all that
[59:43] multiple layers of piping in there,
[59:45] correct?
[59:49] » Yeah, I think I think we still need to
[59:51] to look into that. I mean
[59:53] Mr. De Verte and I were were looking at
[59:54] the mapping before the council meeting
[59:56] and yes, there's a lot of
[59:57] infrastructure, existing infrastructure
[59:59] including I think there's sections where
[1:00:01] there's there's four sets of storm mains
[1:00:04] along Third Street and so I think we
[1:00:07] have to to
[1:00:08] and of course it's you know, a limited
[1:00:10] right of way with and and if we're
[1:00:14] you know, putting new infrastructure in
[1:00:16] I I think for some of it where it's
[1:00:17] going to be removed, some of it might
[1:00:19] remain,
[1:00:20] but we we haven't got to that level of
[1:00:22] of design detail yet.
[1:00:27] » Thank you.
[1:00:28] Councilor Burris.
[1:00:30] >> Thank you, Mayor.
[1:00:32] » Thank you, Mayor.
[1:00:32] What what
[1:00:33] what would be our game plan if we did
[1:00:35] not get that uh
[1:00:37] that grant?
[1:00:42] » Uh well, I I would think we would have
[1:00:44] two options. One would be to continue to
[1:00:46] apply for additional grants to cover the
[1:00:49] budget shortfall or we reduce the scope
[1:00:52] of the project
[1:00:54] to reduce certain elements.
[1:01:00] » Yeah, this one this one has been on the
[1:01:02] books for quite a few years as I
[1:01:05] remember and uh
[1:01:07] um I just hope we're getting closer
[1:01:09] because
[1:01:10] the actual top surface needs help too
[1:01:13] and you don't want to do that without
[1:01:15] fixing the bottom.
[1:01:16] But uh
[1:01:17] I just hope that we're successful in
[1:01:20] in getting our application in and grants
[1:01:23] coming to us.
[1:01:28] » Thank you. Any other questions?
[1:01:31] All right, the council supported grant
[1:01:33] application to Pacific CAN under the
[1:01:35] Build Community Strong Fund Local Impact
[1:01:37] Stream in the amount of 1 million to
[1:01:39] proceed with the Third Street Renewal
[1:01:40] Project. The council allocate 449
[1:01:44] 1,206. That is a very exact number from
[1:01:48] the Housing Accelerator Fund reserve and
[1:01:50] direct staff to increase the project
[1:01:51] budget in the 2027 capital plan
[1:01:54] from
[1:01:55] uh 2 million
[1:01:57] 1,204,223,371,782
[1:02:01] with a 449,206
[1:02:04] funded from the HAF reserve and 1
[1:02:06] million from the Build Community Strong
[1:02:07] Fund.
[1:02:08] I like the dollars in there. Uh is there
[1:02:11] a mover and a seconder for that?
[1:02:13] Any more discussion?
[1:02:16] All right, let's be hopeful that we get
[1:02:18] this one. All those in favor?
[1:02:21] Motion carries. Thank you.
[1:02:23] We'll move to Miss Hodgins uh who is
[1:02:26] here
[1:02:27] um sitting in for Miss McWilliam.
[1:02:30] Welcome also you to the
[1:02:33] the space in the room.
[1:02:35] And
[1:02:36] uh over to you for the City Awards early
[1:02:38] nomination deadline.
[1:02:41] >> Thank you, Mayor Staples. Um so very
[1:02:44] » Thank you, Mayor Staples. Um so very
[1:02:44] briefly, this report is seeking a
[1:02:46] council resolution to advance the
[1:02:47] nomination deadline for the Arts Award
[1:02:49] and the School of Honor to September
[1:02:51] 15th so that council can consider the
[1:02:53] nominees on September 28th, which is
[1:02:55] council's last meeting of the term.
[1:02:57] Thank you.
[1:03:02] » All right.
[1:03:04] Do you have a mover and a seconder? Or
[1:03:06] do you have a question, Gary Russ? Go
[1:03:07] ahead.
[1:03:09] >> It's probably in here somewhere. I
[1:03:10] » It's probably in here somewhere. I
[1:03:10] didn't do a good job on this one, but
[1:03:12] what are what are the dates of this now?
[1:03:15] What are we What are we changing it
[1:03:17] from?
[1:03:18] >> Yeah, so uh normally it would be October
[1:03:20] » Yeah, so uh normally it would be October
[1:03:20] 15th each year would be the nomination
[1:03:22] deadline.
[1:03:28] » Right, any other questions?
[1:03:30] Okay, the deadline to submit a
[1:03:31] nomination for the city of Duncan Arts
[1:03:33] Award or School of Honor Award for 2026
[1:03:37] will only be advanced to September 15th,
[1:03:38] 2026. So, mover and seconder.
[1:03:41] All those in favor? Any opposed? Motion
[1:03:43] carries. Thank you very much. Thanks,
[1:03:45] Ms. Hodgins. Building summary reports.
[1:03:48] The council received the summary of
[1:03:49] building permits June 2026 report of the
[1:03:51] building inspector for information only.
[1:03:53] Is there a mover and a seconder for
[1:03:54] that? Are there any questions? Seeing
[1:03:57] none, all those in favor?
[1:03:59] Motion carries. We'll move on to Mr. De
[1:04:01] Verteuil for bylaws for second and third
[1:04:04] reading of the 2026 financial plight
[1:04:07] plan bylaw amendment.
[1:04:10] » Thank you, Mayor Stables. This is just a
[1:04:12] bylaw amendment to
[1:04:15] bring into the budget for 2026 the a few
[1:04:19] of the
[1:04:21] projects or changes approved by council
[1:04:24] at previous meetings. So, one of which
[1:04:25] was one I spoke to earlier in the
[1:04:28] meeting, the Eagle Heights Reservoir
[1:04:29] decommissioning. So, council added
[1:04:32] $40,000 to that budget to allow for the
[1:04:35] decommissioning of that old tank since
[1:04:37] we already had contractors on staff or
[1:04:40] sorry, on site.
[1:04:41] The
[1:04:42] the second one was an amendment to add
[1:04:45] 10,000 for some communications funding
[1:04:48] for the boundary realignment study.
[1:04:50] The third was adding an
[1:04:53] some budget to for the L&B Road water
[1:04:56] main, which was not an anticipated
[1:04:58] project, but council approved some
[1:05:00] funding towards the Ministry of
[1:05:01] Transportation's request for that
[1:05:03] upgrade.
[1:05:04] And then lastly, the approval of
[1:05:08] 170,000 to the fire hall renovations
[1:05:11] that we were very close to getting
[1:05:13] started on Um imminently.
[1:05:18] » Thank you. Are there questions for Mr.
[1:05:20] de Verteuil on this? Councillor Bruce,
[1:05:21] go ahead.
[1:05:23] >> Thank you, Mayor. I I would
[1:05:26] » Thank you, Mayor. I I would
[1:05:26] I'd vote against against this because
[1:05:30] I think we
[1:05:31] we actually should abort our program on
[1:05:35] realignment with the municipality of
[1:05:37] North Cowichan, and I think we should
[1:05:39] save the money,
[1:05:41] not spend any more, pull out of it now,
[1:05:43] cuz I don't think we have a hope in
[1:05:46] getting it through. And I know we're in
[1:05:48] the preliminary stages of going to see
[1:05:51] the municipality of North Cowichan over
[1:05:53] it, and um
[1:05:55] and I I believe we're spending money
[1:05:59] that we should not be spending on this
[1:06:02] study, and I voted for it at first, and
[1:06:05] I I'm sorry I did that now, and I would
[1:06:08] like to uh
[1:06:10] is there any appetite for any of us to
[1:06:13] re- re-look at that and pull out without
[1:06:16] spending any more money?
[1:06:18] Thank you.
[1:06:21] » Councillor Cups.
[1:06:25] » Thank you. Um sorry about my voice. Um
[1:06:28] I think perhaps just it might be prudent
[1:06:31] to remember that the goal of the of the
[1:06:34] realignment study is not necessarily to
[1:06:37] realign the boundary, but
[1:06:39] rather to study all of the complex
[1:06:42] factors that would go into a decision
[1:06:44] like that. I know I'm certainly not um
[1:06:48] I supported the city embarking on this
[1:06:50] not because I have a a prescribed
[1:06:52] outcome that I'm hoping for, but because
[1:06:54] it's what the citizens voted for was for
[1:06:57] us to get more information. And so I
[1:06:59] think it might be
[1:07:01] a little short-sighted perhaps to
[1:07:04] uh to want to reverse that decision
[1:07:08] um based on
[1:07:10] Well, I guess I can't I can't say why
[1:07:12] why uh why one's motivations might be,
[1:07:15] so I won't, but just I think uh
[1:07:17] I think it would be a bit
[1:07:21] We voted to pursue this because it's
[1:07:23] what uh we were asked to do by the
[1:07:25] residents, so I still I still support us
[1:07:28] going through with it. Thank you.
[1:07:32] » Okay.
[1:07:34] Uh I'll read out the motion.
[1:07:37] But
[1:07:38] Yes, you certainly can.
[1:07:42] >> If we spend all the money on this um
[1:07:46] » If we spend all the money on this um
[1:07:46] this
[1:07:47] discovery
[1:07:49] uh
[1:07:50] program we're on, how much will the
[1:07:52] total be
[1:07:54] for this study?
[1:07:59] » Uh the total was uh 40 for the study and
[1:08:01] 10 for the communications.
[1:08:07] » Well, I would I would like us to discuss
[1:08:09] the
[1:08:10] I I feel that we're really on the wrong
[1:08:12] wrong track, and I don't I don't want to
[1:08:14] spend that money now. And um I don't
[1:08:17] know if there's any other appetite for
[1:08:19] that, but
[1:08:20] and we you're you're asking for another
[1:08:22] 10 grand right now, is that correct?
[1:08:25] >> So so largely uh Council Bruce, we're
[1:08:29] » So so largely uh Council Bruce, we're
[1:08:29] Council's already approved the
[1:08:30] expenditure, so we've already committed
[1:08:32] to those funds with the contractors uh
[1:08:34] pulling out of the stage,
[1:08:36] largely commit to all I wouldn't say
[1:08:38] necessarily all of it, but a lot of it's
[1:08:40] well underway.
[1:08:42] Um this is an amendment to the budget as
[1:08:44] directed by Council at the time.
[1:08:46] So um
[1:08:48] if Council was to change your minds, you
[1:08:50] you'll you know, frankly, you would uh
[1:08:52] have an expenditure without any outcome,
[1:08:54] like without any information. So you're
[1:08:57] well over probably half of the
[1:08:58] expenditure to date.
[1:09:00] Um with not much to show for it if you
[1:09:02] stop now, anyway.
[1:09:04] >> I would still like to save the 20 grand
[1:09:07] » I would still like to save the 20 grand
[1:09:07] that we haven't spent then.
[1:09:10] » Councillor Duncan.
[1:09:13] >> I think this is out of order. Um, we
[1:09:16] » I think this is out of order. Um, we
[1:09:16] have a motion on the floor dealing with
[1:09:18] the Allenby Road water main, the fire
[1:09:20] hall, uh, the communications
[1:09:24] uh, around the boundary realignment.
[1:09:26] There's only $10,000 in here still, so
[1:09:29] um, you know, this there is no way to
[1:09:31] withdraw. We've already voted on it, so
[1:09:35] I think we're all we're talking about
[1:09:36] here is the additional 10 required
[1:09:38] 10,000 required for
[1:09:40] communicating the results of the study
[1:09:42] to the people
[1:09:44] in Duncan that asked for it to start
[1:09:46] with.
[1:09:48] >> Thank you.
[1:09:51] So, that council gave first three
[1:09:53] readings to financial plan amendment
[1:09:55] bylaw number 3263012026, a bylaw to
[1:09:59] amend the financial plan for 2026 to
[1:10:01] 2030. Is there a mover and a seconder?
[1:10:03] So, any discussion on the motion that's
[1:10:05] on the floor?
[1:10:07] All those in favor? Any opposed?
[1:10:09] Councillor Bruce opposed. That carries.
[1:10:11] Thank you very much. We'll move to fees
[1:10:13] and charges bylaw amendment, Miss
[1:10:14] Hodgins.
[1:10:20] » Thank you, Mayor Staples.
[1:10:22] So, the city's utilities department has
[1:10:24] identified that the current fees for
[1:10:26] conducting fire hydrant flow testing
[1:10:28] does not adequately cover the city's
[1:10:29] costs to perform this work.
[1:10:31] This fees and charges bylaw amendment
[1:10:33] seeks to increase the fee for this
[1:10:34] service to adequately cover the city's
[1:10:36] costs.
[1:10:37] The proposed amendment bylaw also
[1:10:39] recommends removing the fee for property
[1:10:40] information packages. City staff
[1:10:42] routinely provide information to the
[1:10:44] public on a variety of topics,
[1:10:46] and the amount of staff time required to
[1:10:48] respond to the property information
[1:10:49] requests is minimal and not
[1:10:51] significantly different from other
[1:10:52] information requests where a fee is not
[1:10:54] charged. Thank you.
[1:10:56] >> Thank you.
[1:10:58] » Thank you.
[1:10:58] Did council give first readings to the
[1:10:59] fees and uh charges amendment bylaw
[1:11:02] number 3212.13
[1:11:04] 2026 the bylaw to amend fire hydrant
[1:11:06] flow testing report fees and other house
[1:11:07] keeping housekeeping amendments. Is
[1:11:10] there a mover and a seconder?
[1:11:11] Any discussion? Questions? All those in
[1:11:14] favor? Motion carries.
[1:11:16] Uh new business, we have the British
[1:11:19] Home Children Day Proclamation request
[1:11:20] that council proclaim September 28th,
[1:11:22] 2026 as British Home Children Day in the
[1:11:24] city of Duncan. Is there a mover and a
[1:11:26] seconder?
[1:11:27] Any discussion?
[1:11:29] Councilor Bruce, go ahead.
[1:11:32] » [clears throat]
[1:11:32] >> I'm just I know that we have a lot of
[1:11:34] » I'm just I know that we have a lot of
[1:11:34] these these proclamations
[1:11:36] and
[1:11:38] they mean nothing and I and I'm just
[1:11:42] wondering
[1:11:43] could we have a list of all the
[1:11:45] proclamations that we have put put
[1:11:48] through um this council in the last I've
[1:11:51] been here 8 years now been here and uh
[1:11:54] there must be a pile of them and I don't
[1:11:56] know that they mean anything to anybody
[1:11:59] and uh
[1:12:00] I I
[1:12:02] I vote for these things generally
[1:12:04] speaking but is it not time to uh
[1:12:07] uh halt some of this British Home
[1:12:10] Children Day Proclamation request? Um
[1:12:15] what is that?
[1:12:22] » Uh thank you through Mayor Stable to
[1:12:24] Councilor Bruce. So, um this is a day of
[1:12:27] recognition to recognize um children who
[1:12:29] were sent to um to Canada
[1:12:32] um orphans who were um uh sent to
[1:12:35] families in Canada and um often their
[1:12:38] uh treatment maybe wasn't wasn't very
[1:12:40] good and so there is this day to
[1:12:42] recognize um what they experienced um
[1:12:44] those children coming to Canada. Um we
[1:12:47] do have a list of all the proclamations.
[1:12:49] Um when council approves a proclamation,
[1:12:50] it does go on our website so we do have
[1:12:52] a list and I'd be happy to circulate
[1:12:53] that to council so you can see the ones
[1:12:55] that we've done.
[1:12:58] » And I would just like to say that they
[1:12:59] do mean something to the people that
[1:13:01] bring them forward and to the people's
[1:13:03] families and to the people affected by
[1:13:05] this. I've sat with um with families um
[1:13:10] uh and learned a lot about the British
[1:13:12] Home Children over the years and so um
[1:13:15] yes, they it definitely has deep meaning
[1:13:17] for a lot of people in our community. We
[1:13:19] were one of the communities that people
[1:13:21] were sent that children were sent to.
[1:13:24] Uh is there any further discussion about
[1:13:26] the motion on the floor and not
[1:13:27] proclamations in general?
[1:13:29] Councilor Bruce.
[1:13:30] >> Um does it does it take staff time
[1:13:34] » Um does it does it take staff time
[1:13:34] to do all to do the these proclamations?
[1:13:37] Does it take staff time?
[1:13:39] >> So that would be a discussion about
[1:13:40] » So that would be a discussion about
[1:13:40] proclamations.
[1:13:42] Specifically, if we'd like to have a
[1:13:44] discussion about proclamations at the
[1:13:45] table, we can ask staff to bring the
[1:13:47] list of proclamations and have a
[1:13:49] discussion. Um but the the staff is also
[1:13:52] welcome to answer the question as it's
[1:13:53] come up.
[1:13:57] » Uh through the mayor to Councilor Bruce,
[1:13:58] um it's fairly minimal. The requestors
[1:14:00] are required to provide the uh
[1:14:02] proclamation that they would like, so
[1:14:04] it's not uh us drafting those and so we
[1:14:07] present it to council for consideration.
[1:14:11] » Thank you.
[1:14:13] And there's a motion on the floor. Um
[1:14:15] all those in favor.
[1:14:17] Any opposed? Motion carries.
[1:14:20] Uh Councilor Kaps, over to you for 9.2.
[1:14:28] » Would you like me to read?
[1:14:29] >> Hi.
[1:14:30] » Hi.
[1:14:30] Sorry, [clears throat] apologies. Just
[1:14:32] my voice is a little bit rough because
[1:14:33] I'm homesick. Um
[1:14:35] >> It's okay.
[1:14:35] » It's okay.
[1:14:35] >> I didn't know I would need to introduce
[1:14:38] » I didn't know I would need to introduce
[1:14:38] uh this one, but it's uh
[1:14:41] >> Read out the motion. To read out the
[1:14:42] » Read out the motion. To read out the
[1:14:42] motion.
[1:14:43] >> Sorry, pardon me. The council declare
[1:14:45] » Sorry, pardon me. The council declare
[1:14:45] the
[1:14:46] city of Duncan an apartheid free city
[1:14:48] and sign the apartheid free city pledge.
[1:14:51] Which I believe was attached. Thank you.
[1:14:53] >> Is there a seconder for that? Is there
[1:14:55] » Is there a seconder for that? Is there
[1:14:56] any discussion?
[1:14:57] All those in favor?
[1:14:59] Motion carries. Thank you.
[1:15:01] And we'll move to reports of mayor and
[1:15:02] council. Are there any council members
[1:15:04] who wish to make a report this evening?
[1:15:13] Anyone else?
[1:15:14] Councillor Newington?
[1:15:18] Anyone else?
[1:15:25] So, we'll start with Councillor Duncan.
[1:15:26] >> Okay, thank thank you, Your Worship. Um
[1:15:29] » Okay, thank thank you, Your Worship. Um
[1:15:29] yeah, on behalf of uh Duncan Council, I
[1:15:31] attended the opening of the 39 Days and
[1:15:34] welcomed the people to come to town and
[1:15:36] spend their money.
[1:15:37] Uh
[1:15:38] and I also attended with other members
[1:15:40] of council the fire department night, an
[1:15:42] opportunity to meet some of our new uh
[1:15:45] firefighters,
[1:15:47] uh and to see some of the equipment in
[1:15:49] use, uh and took a ride up on the
[1:15:52] ladder.
[1:15:54] And I also attended the with other
[1:15:56] council members the Minister of State uh
[1:15:58] meeting. Um one of the things that I
[1:16:01] spoke about there was the traffic
[1:16:03] conditions. We really, and it's been
[1:16:05] brought up that you know, this is the
[1:16:08] I guess the the knot between the two
[1:16:11] large uh
[1:16:12] cities on the island, and there doesn't
[1:16:14] seem to be a way to deal with it. We
[1:16:17] don't, you know, we pointed out that
[1:16:19] we can't really look at expanding the
[1:16:22] road between the bridge and and Beverly
[1:16:24] uh
[1:16:25] and also we spoke to her about uh the
[1:16:28] village and how we we feel that it's a
[1:16:30] success it's a success, and also
[1:16:33] uh that it should be added to the
[1:16:35] continuum of housing with BC Housing.
[1:16:39] >> Thank you.
[1:16:40] » Thank you.
[1:16:40] Councillor Newington?
[1:16:43] >> Well, Councilor Bruce has still stolen
[1:16:44] » Well, Councilor Bruce has still stolen
[1:16:44] my thunder. Cuz those are basically the
[1:16:47] same what I was going to say.
[1:16:50] Oh, Councilor Duncan, I'm sorry. I'm
[1:16:52] looking at Councilor Bruce. Councilor
[1:16:53] Duncan.
[1:16:54] Um
[1:16:55] Yeah, the other thing I want to say is
[1:16:57] it certainly has been wonderful with 39
[1:16:59] days this year. Um there've been some
[1:17:01] great local people
[1:17:03] and particularly the dancers. I don't
[1:17:06] know if anybody's had an opportunity to
[1:17:07] see any of the dancers.
[1:17:09] Um but the young people that have been
[1:17:11] dancing have just been absolutely
[1:17:13] wonderful.
[1:17:14] Um but yes,
[1:17:16] we've all done
[1:17:17] what Councilor Duncan said. We just let
[1:17:20] him be our spokesperson. Thank you.
[1:17:24] » Thank you. Is there any other councilor
[1:17:25] who'd like to make a report about
[1:17:27] anything?
[1:17:28] No? Okay.
[1:17:30] I will move on to my report, which will
[1:17:32] actually be very brief this evening.
[1:17:34] I think anyways.
[1:17:36] Um because it feels like there's been a
[1:17:37] lot happening and uh and also I I feel
[1:17:42] like it's hard to even gather my
[1:17:43] thoughts around everything. I would like
[1:17:45] to just acknowledge that Brittany Anders
[1:17:48] uh Minister Anderson's visit. It was I
[1:17:50] got to be with her at the CVRD and here.
[1:17:52] And uh for those of you who don't know
[1:17:54] her, she is incredibly understanding and
[1:17:58] recognizes the challenges and really
[1:18:00] does advocate well on our behalf in her
[1:18:02] role. And I really appreciate uh working
[1:18:05] with her and she does open up a lot of
[1:18:07] space for us to bring issues to her. And
[1:18:09] she does follow through um
[1:18:11] with the the channels going through the
[1:18:13] channels that they need to be brought
[1:18:15] forward in and uh yeah, I just really
[1:18:17] acknowledge and appreciate her.
[1:18:19] I also want to acknowledge our fire
[1:18:21] department uh for the the the fire that
[1:18:24] happened the other day um and our
[1:18:27] neighboring fire departments who came
[1:18:28] out to support.
[1:18:30] Uh and you know, there is a lot of sort
[1:18:34] of talk in communities about the places
[1:18:36] that um
[1:18:38] that we don't work together. Um there's
[1:18:40] little recognition of all of the times
[1:18:41] that we do. We work together far more
[1:18:44] often than we do not.
[1:18:46] And we may disagree on things, and we
[1:18:48] may not look at things the same way, um
[1:18:50] but we are always there for each other.
[1:18:51] And that was demonstrated again um by
[1:18:54] that fire and the way that that fire was
[1:18:55] managed. I believe there was 30
[1:18:57] firefighters on site that day. Uh they
[1:19:00] had to rotate out because of the
[1:19:02] temperature outside as well as the
[1:19:03] temperature of the fire, so they were
[1:19:04] rotating in and out. And uh
[1:19:08] and you know, they saved that building
[1:19:10] from being damaged much, much worse than
[1:19:12] than it was. Um that just the the way
[1:19:15] that the community came together and the
[1:19:17] the responders that deal with um
[1:19:20] um
[1:19:21] that deal with the people who are being
[1:19:23] displaced from their homes and how well
[1:19:25] they everyone was taken care of. I heard
[1:19:28] comment after comment after comment of
[1:19:30] people sharing with me um just all the
[1:19:33] things that they saw were about people
[1:19:34] taking care of each other and people
[1:19:36] helping and supporting each other.
[1:19:37] And you know, these are things that it I
[1:19:40] did mention this in in some recent
[1:19:42] social media.
[1:19:44] And uh and these are things that people
[1:19:45] still don't seem to
[1:19:48] I'm not sure why, but you know, want to
[1:19:51] recognize in community. We heard from
[1:19:53] the RCMP uh staff sergeant today about
[1:19:57] the challenges and and what they deal
[1:19:58] with on a daily basis and a monthly
[1:20:00] basis. And we know those things, and
[1:20:02] we're well aware of them.
[1:20:03] And often times issues of um of uh that
[1:20:07] that are, you know, failures of our
[1:20:09] system that we're witnessing right now
[1:20:12] um with not having enough housing, not
[1:20:13] having mental health supports
[1:20:15] um with the growing issue of of um
[1:20:18] income disparity um with with with so so
[1:20:22] many systemic issues piled on top of
[1:20:23] each other and systems that are under so
[1:20:25] much pressure, we don't acknowledge that
[1:20:28] the wrong people are dealing with these
[1:20:29] issues right now. The police is dealing
[1:20:31] with them because there's no one else
[1:20:32] dealing with them.
[1:20:34] And and so um
[1:20:37] you know, we continue to advocate for
[1:20:38] the needs of our community. We've done a
[1:20:39] great job of advocating for our
[1:20:42] community, and yet we still see the
[1:20:44] problems getting bigger.
[1:20:46] And we still see the wrong people having
[1:20:47] to be, you know, having to be dealt or
[1:20:50] having them dealt with in the wrong way.
[1:20:53] And so um people like, you know, um
[1:20:56] Minister Anderson when she comes, she
[1:20:58] understands that and there are very
[1:20:59] there are other ministers that do as
[1:21:01] well. But we really
[1:21:03] need more so than ever to remember as a
[1:21:05] community
[1:21:07] um
[1:21:08] you know, how to
[1:21:10] how to support each other, which we
[1:21:12] do often, but also how we speak about
[1:21:16] each other and the community that we
[1:21:17] live in.
[1:21:18] That's also very important. And it gets
[1:21:21] a bit
[1:21:23] exhausting, I guess is the one word. Um
[1:21:26] but it's disappointing to see people rip
[1:21:28] apart their community because of
[1:21:30] um when all of these people, you know,
[1:21:32] hundreds and hundreds of people are
[1:21:34] coming together to try to do what they
[1:21:35] can to take care of of what they can in
[1:21:38] ways that just are not being as
[1:21:40] effective as they are because it's
[1:21:42] simply
[1:21:43] there is not the support where it needs
[1:21:45] to be.
[1:21:46] And so I just, you know, implore people
[1:21:48] to redirect that energy into um you
[1:21:52] know, letter writing
[1:21:54] phoning, doing whatever you can to the
[1:21:56] levels of government that need to invest
[1:21:57] into those those needs in all of our
[1:22:00] communities, not just ours.
[1:22:02] And when we're out in community, you
[1:22:04] know, to to
[1:22:07] make sure that we're acknowledging the
[1:22:09] beauty of the place that we live in,
[1:22:10] too. Because two things, you know, can
[1:22:12] be true at the same time. And there's a
[1:22:14] lot of people suffering and it's I can't
[1:22:16] imagine
[1:22:17] being in those positions of suffering
[1:22:18] that much and um and constantly having
[1:22:22] to read that how you are the problem
[1:22:24] when
[1:22:24] it is a system that is failing you that
[1:22:26] is the problem. And
[1:22:28] what we're seeing is the results of
[1:22:29] that.
[1:22:31] So, that is my soapbox for this evening.
[1:22:34] Uh thank you, and
[1:22:37] uh there's 6 days left, I believe, of
[1:22:40] the 39 days of July. Look at me get that
[1:22:43] right for the first time in years.
[1:22:45] I have this 39 days of summer thing
[1:22:47] stuck in my head, and I just can't get
[1:22:48] it out. Um but yeah, make your way out
[1:22:51] if you haven't already. It's been
[1:22:53] incredible. The Long John and his team
[1:22:55] have done a phenomenal job, as always.
[1:22:57] And there is nothing like seeing City
[1:23:00] Square in the parking lots and
[1:23:02] uh and the parks filled up with uh
[1:23:04] people
[1:23:05] uh laughing and enjoying themselves and
[1:23:06] dancing and
[1:23:08] uh yeah, reminding us of all the good
[1:23:11] things in our community.
[1:23:13] So, we will go into
[1:23:19] uh question period. Do we have any
[1:23:21] questions, Ms. Hodgins?
[1:23:27] Okay.
[1:23:28] And we'll go into a motion to close that
[1:23:29] the meeting be closed to the public
[1:23:31] under the following sections of the
[1:23:32] community charter to discuss matters
[1:23:34] related to personal information, section
[1:23:36] 91A of personal information about an
[1:23:39] identifiable individual who holds or is
[1:23:41] being considered for a position as an
[1:23:43] officer, employee, or agent of the
[1:23:44] municipality, or another position
[1:23:46] appointed by the municipality. Employee
[1:23:48] relations, sections 91C, labor
[1:23:50] relations, or other employee relations.
[1:23:52] We'll take a 7-minute adjournment. 8
[1:23:55] minutes. Let's come back at 7:30 and
[1:23:57] give people a chance to stretch. Thanks,
[1:23:59] everyone.