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Iud yna ddatai a'n i'r�edau passi'n i'r�edau dieddu.
If you have joined us at City Hall this evening and you wish to speak during one of our
question and comment periods, please add your name to the speaker's list in the table
in the FOIA. If you are here to speak to the, during the public hearing, we ask that you just
note on there that you are speaking during that time. Please indicate whether you would like to speak.
Sorry, first, second question period and please note that all questions and comments made
during that time must pertain to items that councils are considering on their agenda this evening.
If you are watching online, you may submit written comments by following the instructions
on the council meeting web page at pitmettos.ca forward slash council meetings.
Gasser, welcome to stay as long as they'd like and you can leave when you're ready to do so,
we just ask that you do so in a way that does not disturb tonight's meeting.
The meeting is being live streamed and recorded and will be posted to the city's website after
the evening and the information shared during the meeting does become part of that public record. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Ms. Barshard. I'd like to call to order the public meeting of pitmettos
city council here on Tuesday, November 18th at 7 p.m. Council acknowledges with respect and gratitude
that the city of pitmettos is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the KTC First
Nation, who are stewards of the slants and time immemorial. Any late items? There are no late items.
I'll look to my colleagues for approval of the agenda. It's been moved in seconded. Call the
question, all those in favour? That carries. We will now begin with a public hearing.
I know I'll call the public hearing to order. The public hearing is convene,
pursuant to section 464 of the Local Government Act. This evening we are considering
official community plan amendment by law number 3034-2025. Council is giving initial readings
to the bylaws and is now seeking input from the community. We will begin with a staff presentation
after which I'll explain the process and rules for providing comment. Ms. Carter.
Good evening, Mayor McDonalds and members of council. I'm here this evening to present the
official community plan update and as Mayor McDonald mentioned, this update is required by the
province to align our official community plan with provincial housing legislation.
I'll start by acknowledging that this is a very busy slide. However, it is an honest
illustration of all of the work that the city has done over the last two years to comply with
provincial directives. The city has met every deadline that's been imposed by the province
and with your consideration of the OCP updates for 2025 were well on track to meet the next
provincial deadline, which is December 31st of this year. The OCP amendments can be categorised
into three key areas. The first is there's a number of amendments in the document that are intended
to ensure compliance with the legislation. We also respond to a council direction that was
passed in 2023 and I'll talk more about that on a Cummings slide and then there were housekeeping
and administrative type amendments that we did just to improve clarity and consistency in the bylaw.
As council will recall, bill 44 required that municipalities prepare what was called an
interim housing needs report and we had to do that by January 1st of this year. We did that work
last fall and then council received the interim housing needs report last November.
To local government act now requires that we update the OCP to make sure that we have enough capacity
to accommodate the 20 year housing need, but we're also required to update our OCP and make sure
that we have enough policies that support the directives in the interim housing needs report and
housing needs report. In terms of the interim housing need report related policy updates,
we are amending the OCP to insert the table on the screen. That is a table that we took from the
interim housing needs report and that table summarizes what the housing need is for this community
over the next five and 20 years. For pit medows, we are required to provide additional housing
for 5,000, well it's 5,195 units. We also have introduced new policies in the OCP amendment
that encourage rental housing. We're encouraging a mix of unit sizes and a range of in terms
of the number of bedrooms that would be provided and we've created a policy that recognizes and protects
mobile home parks. We've got a number of good policies but we've been able to enhance them
and one of the key focus areas in the interim housing needs report is we're supposed to talk about
the benefits of locating housing near transit, so we've enhanced existing policies to do that.
And then the OCP is to confirm that we have capacity to address projected housing need and I'll
talk more about that on a later slide. Council will also recall that bill 44 required that the
municipality pre-zone and you can see the properties that we had to pre-zone their on the
screen and we had to pre-zone those to allow for what the province described as being small-scale
multi-unit housing or smooth. At the time we were creating the bylaw, the local government act
waived the requirement for the zoning bylaw to comply with the OCP and that's not how planning works,
zoning always has to comply with OCP but in this case the province waived that requirement
but now the local government act is saying okay, municipalities you now need to amend your OCP
and bring your OCP into compliance with the new zoning so that's what we're doing through part of
this OCP amendment. In terms of the small-scale multi-unit housing related OCP updates we've expanded
policies to be clear that infill housing includes or the smooth housing includes single family
accessory dwelling units like garden suites or secondary suites. It can be in the form of a duplex
townhouse or a small-scale apartment units. The low-density designation has been updated to be
very clear that in that designation you can have three, four or six units and in the report we draw
reader's attention to a attachment be it's on the screen and what this OCP amendment will do is it
would allow the eight parcels that are shown up there to apply for a rezoning to have the smooth zoning.
Those eight properties were originally not given smooth zoning because they were either over one
acre or size or they were not zoned to allow either a single family or a duplex use and and two good
examples are number three is the meadow highlands cooperative. It had more than six units and it's
over an acre and then of course number four on the screen is a commercial property. One of the
points that we make in the report is we think it is unlikely that every one of these properties
would seek rezoning but we are very clear in the report and I think it's important that people understand
that anyone of those properties if they want to have a smooth zone they need to apply for a rezoning
application submit a rezoning and then Council would have the discretion to consider the
application on a case by case basis and you would consider it on its merits. Council will also recall that
the province passed a bill called bill 47 and that required municipalities to designate transit oriented
areas. In our particular case we have two areas that we had to designate as TOS because we are within
400 metres of two west coast express stations. Now one thing that we did in the report and in the
MMS is the transit oriented areas are not being designated in the OCP that designation will remain
outside of the OCP but we've created a lot of text in the OCP so that people know there are TOS and we're
clarifying where TOS density and height may be permitted. We clarified that they are permitted in all
land juice designations and we also make the point in the OCP that unless someone is already in
a zone that allows densities similar to the TOS a rezoning would be required and then Council would
have the authority to consider that application like you would any other rezoning application.
I mentioned previously that the Local Government Act requires that municipalities confirmed that
there is capacity in their OCPs to accommodate the projected 5,195 units or additional need.
A similar provision exists in the Local Government Act that also requires municipalities to confirm
that there is capacity in the zoning bylaw to accommodate that need. So we went through a bit of an
exercise to determine what the capacity looks like and as far as the OCP goes we concluded that we
have nearly 4 times the required 20-year housing need and as far as the zoning bylaw goes we have more
than 2.5 times the required 20-year housing need, which is that 595 units. So what that meant is
we did not have to amend the OCP or the zoning bylaw to create additional capacity. We have plenty
of capacity. The OCP amending bylaw also addresses a resolution that Council passed in October
of 2023 and at that time Council directed staff to review the rural land juice policies and the
goal was to bring them better into alignment with the regional growth strategy and the intent of the OCP.
Staff took a look at the rural land juice designation and were recommending that the last
sentence in the density provision be deleted and so under the rural land juice designation
the density would now read maximum one unit per net hector. And then the last slide that I have
for you as part of this public hearing is just a slide that describes that the OCP amendment also
includes a number of housekeeping and administrative amendments and the goal was just to improve
clarity and consistency. We have added a lot of text in the document explaining the history
of the provincial housing legislation and why there are TOAs and why there are smooth zoning just so
people when they read it they understand that was a provincial directive. We have updated the population
and dwelling unit projections to reflect Metro Vancouver's latest projections. We have clarified
how development permits are applied for smooth and TOA designations and then we took the opportunity
to correct some typos and Crawford references and just make some changes to improve the overall
readability of the OCP.
And with that, I thank you for your attention and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
Thank you very much, manager Carter. The floor will now be opened for comments. We will be using a speaker's list for to call people to the podium.
If you wish to speak, but haven't added your name to the list, please make your way to the table in the lobby to do so.
Everyone who deems their interest in property to be affected by this bylaw will be given the opportunity to be heard.
No one will be or should feel discouraged or prevented from sharing their views. The main function of a public hearing is to create an opportunity for citizens to share their opinions with Council regarding proposed bylaws.
Council's role is not to debate the merits of a proposed bylaw or to engage in question and comments.
Therefore, Council will largely be silent this evening focusing on hearing your submissions and points of view.
We ask that everyone focus on sharing their own perspective and refrain from engaging in debate.
As the chair of my role is to moderate the hearing and ensure we stay on topic and engage in a respectful manner.
Each speaker will have up to five minutes to make their comments.
Once all guests have had the opportunity to speak, you will be giving a second opportunity to share any further thoughts should you be interested.
Once this hearing has adjourned, Council cannot receive any additional information written or verbal regarding the proposed bylaw until such time as Council adopts or defeats the bylaw.
Madam Clerk, can you please summarize any written submissions received for the public hearing and explain for a guess how the speakers list will work this evening before.
Thank you, Mayor. We received no written submissions but I do believe we have at least one in person speaker this evening before Ms. Costa calls names.
Just a reminder that you'll have up to five minutes to address Council.
Please start by stating your name and where you live and please note that there is a timer on the screen to help you manage your time. Thank you, Ms. Costa.
Maureen Robertson, pit meadows, Mayor and Council.
I'd like to make a few comments on parking that's mentioned in this public hearing documentation.
So in 2014, I myself experienced infill on Mitchell Road here in pit meadows.
And on page 19, it says parking can significantly impact a neighborhood influencing both the physical environment and the quality of life for residents.
I experienced issues with parking during construction.
I experienced some issues with parking on an ongoing basis, but in my opinion, there's lots of parking nearby.
It's free, you can walk a block, carry on.
I did not experience a good working relationship with bylaws when I was going through the construction phase and receiving new neighbors into the neighborhood and everybody just settling into
the site parking show we call it. And this scenario led to the creation of an updated good neighbor policy.
The experience was very painful to go through on a daily basis, especially during construction.
So I am wondering if in the new, the current good neighbor policy, does it specifically address parking during construction?
And then I'm also wondering in bylaws, is there something, some help for neighborhoods who are experiencing new neighbors in all the parking issues that can go with that.
Thank you.
Through the mayor.
I'm actually not able to provide that information. I'm not familiar with the good neighbor bylaw, but I will get that information and I will get the perhaps get your contact information and I'll follow up.
Thank you.
We have no other registered speakers at this time, Madam Mayor.
I think we may have one coming forward.
Good evening. Peter Youngblood pit meadows.
Yeah, I just like to, I'm encouraged to see the modification made to the rural residential item on this OCP bylaw amendment.
I'm glad we're just clarifying its density maximum one unit per net hectare period.
I think that's a good thing because the sentence after that might result it in, you know, and expectations or whatever from it.
And I think it's going to help with reducing speculation and possibilities like that in the agricultural areas.
So I'm glad to see that that's being done.
Great. Thank you.
I will now call speakers for the second and last time, if you'd like to make further comment or you haven't had a chance to speak yet, please make your way to the podium and form a line.
And I will do one last final call for speakers.
Seeing their no further speakers, I now declare this public hearing closed and thank each of you for taking the time to attend and for sharing your comments.
We will now move on. Thank you very much, manager Carter. We'll now move on to this agendas question and comment period and we'll end again go over to Miss Farshard.
Thank you, Mayor again, before Miss Costa starts calling names. Just a reminder, you'll have three minutes to address council, including time for them to respond to any questions that you might have.
We start by stating your name and where you live and just a reminder that this information does become part of the public record as this meeting is being live stream. Thank you.
We have five speakers signed up for the first round, our first speaker is Mark Sakela on the soil permit item.
Good evening, Mayor and council. It's Mark Sakela. I live in Port Moody. I'm here to address, I think it's item J1 on the agenda for soil and repairing zone.
I just want to make no one that I'm actually here, so when the item comes up, if you had specific questions, I would be able to answer them directly with the basic knowledge I have what's going on there.
I'd also like to sort of clarify a bit of the reason of why in the repairing zone we moved our driveway would be live on a bog there, our water line was underneath the driveway. It's been busted three times.
The first time we were in for $15,000, the city forgave it the second time, $15,000 we did not, so we paid that bill, so we decided it's not sustainable to keep the water line under the driveway, so we moved the driveway, not the water line, we moved it 10 feet.
And I think in the end what I'm hoping for tonight is that we'll continue to work with the city we work with them, it's been great and that we can come to some resolution.
That isn't going to cause sort of undue hardship financially for us to address what we may have to do, so I'm hoping you have some tools that will allow us to get to the final result of improving everything in the end without putting us in some financial hold that we won't be able to get out of.
So that's basically why I'm here. So if you have direct questions when the item comes up I'd be happy to address them.
Thank you very much.
Our next speaker is Heather Emmett on the E transportation item.
Good evening Heather Emmett, pitmettos.
I just want to just like to speak about the E transportation.
It has been something that has been very concerning to me for quite some time.
It is not difficult to find issues anywhere you go in this community. I walk a lot.
Even tonight coming here as I was crossing here on Harris Road.
There was about a group of eight youth.
At least two of them pop a wheelies on Harris Road going very fast in the dark and cars were honking at them very unsafe.
Speaking of the pop a wheelies, I went for a walk like I often do.
Just stopped my street and as I was walking along on this on the sidewalk.
There was three youth on these e-bikes.
The first two again pop a wheelies traveling.
I'd say very close to like 30 kilometers an hour.
Okay.
And the first kid took off pop a wheelie the second kid as he's passing me.
What do you think happened?
Smack.
Thank goodness he was wearing a really good helmet.
The guy, the one that was falling him was not on a pop a wheelie.
So everywhere I go in this community, I'm seeing this.
In the summer I turned right onto Harris from low heat.
The intersection there at McMinn.
To my left there was a youth on a e-bike on the north-east side.
For some reason he sat there until the light turned.
He sat at a red light waiting to go south.
And as soon as the light turned green he decided to cross from east to west.
Right into front of the cars that were just getting the green.
I laid on my horn right away because I react very quickly.
I can tell you my neighbor happened to be in the car beside me.
When we got home he's right next door to me.
He says, I had no idea that that cyclist was there.
By kneeling on that horn I'm pretty sure that I prevented a like a tragedy.
And it is not difficult to find it anywhere.
I will say I think that there are youth.
I think a lot of people don't understand the rules and what's expected of them in the community.
So I think the education is a really good piece of that.
I did see I have seen some good youth.
They were riding on the sidewalk on their e-bikes.
When I caught up with them on at a stop late.
I said, do you mind if I make a recommendation?
And I said, could you please, do you have a horn?
And they said yes.
And I said, can you please honk it?
And they're like, but it's too loud.
We're bothered people.
I said, we want to know that you're there.
It's important.
So the education is going to go a really long way.
I have brought this up before we have both council and staff.
And I really appreciate that it's on the agenda.
One recommendation.
There is a city's internal staff led community safety working group.
This is a community issue.
And I would love to see the community involved in the solutions and the education.
And really change it.
Make it a safer community.
We're not the only community experiencing this.
Thank you.
And more to come on that.
Under I too.
Thank you.
Our next speaker is Erin O'Millan on the traffic report.
Hello, Mary and Council.
I'm really happy to see the safety review completed for Hammond and Blakely, especially after a few scary incidents in recent years.
I support all of staff's interim recommendations.
I'm really glad to see them.
And I appreciate how much it's coordinated with planned capital works, making it even more cost effective.
I would add a few priorities to the recommendations to improve safety further, also in a cost effective way.
Number one was right transfer noted as a safety concern in the report.
No right turn on red signage and regulation change there would make a really big difference.
It's very affordable and in research it's shown to be highly effective.
In fact, in most places around the world, there are no right turns allowed on red for that reason.
So please consider no right turn on red at this intersection.
It's likely very similar cost to the other recommended signage at less than 10,000 potentially quite a bit less.
And then number two reducing the Blakely road speed limit to 30 kilometers an hour.
The whole way between the two schools would dramatically reduce serious injuries and the risk of deaths people walking in biking.
It would also transform the neighborhood bikeway that's there to one that's comfortable for most right now.
It is comfortable for a few or for some.
I wrote up that way here tonight and it is a four blocks between the schools and for two of the blocks it jumps up to 50 kilometers an hour, which doesn't make sense.
It's inconsistent for drivers and it's poor practice and so I hope that we could change that.
I would really appreciate it having been on that road riding with my kids when people do zoom up to 50 for those two blocks and it's rather scary.
Number three great to see the short segment of Blakely road protective bike lanes that's very affordable on the approaches to the intersection.
That's inconsistent that is consistent with the active transportation plan and accomplishes many things with that one action.
That's actually how it's rapid implementation, which is fast and affordable.
I would say you could easily narrow the driving lanes on Blakely further you only need 3.3 meters to get buses and trucks through and that would allow you to have an adequate with bike lane there and that also helps to slow folks down to have that kind of visual enclosure.
Really great to see the protected bike lane recommended for Hammond and I was just curious to confirm does that go all the way from Blakely to Bonds and I look forward to seeing what.
If the improvements council approves, thank you. Great, thank you and more on that under I3.
Our next speaker is Peter Youngblood, also on the traffic study.
Good evening again. Yeah, I'd just like to give my appreciation to for the report from staff on these improvements to the Hammond and Blakely intersection.
I go through there quite a bit too. I walk or bike or drive through there and especially during the time when kids are getting off of school or going to school. It's pretty crazy there.
So I think these these improvements are going to really help there.
They could safer and I think they'll go a long way to doing that.
And I too believe I think the stretch from pit metal secondary to Davy Jones being a designated bicycle route.
I think I just totally make sense to make that 30 kilometers the whole way along that stretch.
Just with make things a lot safer.
There's some ball boats part way along there and things that it'd be a lot better and a lot safer for cyclists and pedestrians as well.
I think there's been graphic shown and things that if you're hit at 50 kilometers an hour years of very good chance of serious injury.
But if it happens at 30 kilometers an hour there's just that much less chance of that happening.
So and I think the right turn on red is is a good idea too.
A lot of countries in the world most countries in fact that's no right turn on red is what what the law is.
It's not a hardship once you're used to it.
It's just I think I think it'll be a great idea for for this intersection especially so.
Thanks very much.
Great. Thank you for your comments.
Our final speaker is Joanne Fry also on the traffic study.
Hi.
I'm Joanne Fry and the blockwalk chair on Blakely.
And I've just got this as I entered so I haven't had a really good look hopefully there'll be some positive things there.
But our main concern is speeding volume.
I've already now spoken to several of you volume is really important but the speeding is absolutely out of control.
I've been writing and talking to the city probably six eight years now about the issue and it's only getting worse.
So on our section I'm.
My neighbor here is right on the corner but I'm for houses in probably 90% of the calls I get from blockwatch people on my street are complaining about the speeding.
Personally so far I don't see how this any of what I've announced at I'll certainly have a good look because we'll be having a meeting about it probably the next week or two.
But I don't see any of this is addressing the speeding in anyway.
When I have called and talked to engineering and other people they say call the police.
Which is outrageous because by the time what happens is you need to start down by the high school mostly and it will come right through.
So it comes through the light at how I'm in and Blakely and carries right through because like some of the area down toward Osprey it's nice and flat and straight.
And they speed through so calling the police you call them they say they're still there no they're long gone.
So I don't see how any of this is going to address that.
In our meetings we've asked repeatedly for some type of the speed bump.
And we've been told that you're not going to get speed bumps there because of fire.
One of the neighbors on my block is Don Joley who was the fire captain and he said it might slow down how many times I've lived there 13 years I think I've seen one fire truck maybe a year go down there.
I think we're waiting for trouble and I'll have a look and then I guess you'll be hearing from us again in the future.
Thank you for your comments.
Doesn't look like any more speakers I'll go to our corporate officer and see if there's any written submissions.
Thank you Mayor we do have one written submission from Lisa Wilde a resident and.
Business owner and pitmettos she writes I've taken the time to review the extensive documentation regarding the community safety update on e transportation.
This is an all day every day issue for myself and my day care children as we walk around all areas of our city.
Calls are always happening we are constantly swerved around and I appreciate the information presented and encourage the extensive educational opportunities described while looking forward to an uptick an enforcement.
In regards to item I three traffic safety review at Hammond and Blakely thank you for the thorough analysis of this intersection following preceding issues.
The day care children to my experience the full effect of the findings on a regular basis at this and other intersections in our city.
I appreciate and support the follow up options provided.
I note the point on potential parking issues and experience the plethora of those who park in ways that limit accessibility and site lines daily.
Our straights are excessively filling with part to vehicles and we may need to look at the concept of parking in the very near future.
For full disclosure is not everyone listening may know my day care was hit in a different crosswalk by a vehicle driver that saw us and stopped fully but then accelerated and through my five seat stroller several meters down the street.
We walk a minimum of 10 kilometers per day around our city so I am fully aware and invested in pedestrian safety initiatives we need them desperately thank you.
Thank you Ms. Persher and we'll be visiting all those items further down in the agenda so we will now move on to the adoption in the minutes we have the November fourth regular meeting of council's been moved seconded any airs or admissions.
With that I'll call the question all those in favor and those carry.
We now have a celebrate pit metals and I welcome our manager of communications and civic engagement.
To present two corporate videos produced in 2025 related to city services infrastructure and local economic development welcome to you.
Thank you mayor and good evening council and public.
In the communications and civic engagement divisions 2025 business plan one of the key initiatives was to produce two corporate videos.
Tonight on behalf of the team I'm excited to share them with you.
The first video your city working for you highlights the essential services infrastructure and initiatives that help make pit metals such a wonderful place to live work and play.
Teachers mayor Nicole McDonald Cameron Rimer manager of operations and Olivia he pay marks parks operations supervisor.
So without further ado here's the video number one.
The city provides a wide range of infrastructure and services to support our residents daily life here in the city of pit metals and that may start with our essential services whether road maintenance, public safety or safe healthy drinking water.
Connections are really important to the city of pit metals and we have an extensive road network that we maintain and it helps us really stay connected with the community and the region.
In addition to the big things like our water mains, our sewer mains drainage system, our decking network and our roads.
We maintain all the small infrastructure too. We've got our sidewalks, our litter rooms. We also have our catch basins that we go clean all of our catch basins to make sure that the water can actually flow out of the city and stuff.
As well we have our community base resources such as our parks, recreation, multi-use pathways that contribute to health and wellness for our residents.
Our health wellness and natural spaces are the foundation of a vibrant and inclusive community.
When residents have access to parks, trails and recreation facilities, it provides opportunities for everyone to participate, no matter your age or ability.
We have so many beautiful spots to walk in pit metals whether the dikes, the trails, the pathway.
The dikes are very important for the city of pit metals. We've got over 80% of the city is in the flood place. The dikes really help to keep that area safe and dry for the residents.
And the 60 kilometers of dikes that do impound the city are needed to be cleaned and maintained by our crews.
Our parks, gardens and trails aren't just three spaces. They are places where neighbors come to meet for block parties, where families spend time together, building memories, where we cheer on local sports teams, and where our whole community comes together.
When we create spaces that community members can gather and connect, I think that enhances that feeling of safety in our community.
As well as when you get generations and different families and people of all different cultures and a variety of things together, we break down barriers.
And we want to create a community that is friendly to all in our community feel safe and welcome.
Thank you.
So that was video number one. Starting tomorrow, this video will be shared across the city's social media channels and on the website, which is time very well for the 2026 business planning.
Our second video, which I'll show in a moment, rooted in pit medows, showcases people, places and business that help make our local economy unique, highlighting how economic development and agriculture work hand in hand to sustain a vibrant and connected community.
It features mirror McDonald, Patrick Ward, director of planning and development and Michelle Basque, manager of environment and agriculture.
Oh, God.
The city is supporting local businesses by supporting local economic development, whether that's partnering chamber or creating a strategic economic plan.
The economic development initiatives that the city has undertaken are really having a meaningful impact on our community and our local businesses.
We have so many special spots that we could showcase in the city of pit medows and that support our economic development.
Whether that's on our north side, some of our beautiful farm businesses and local products as well as our community often featured at the pit medows art gallery.
We also have our farmers markets and where we have local products and local business owners so it's so important that we shop local and support local here in the city of pit medows.
So partnerships for a city like pit medows are incredibly valuable.
As a smaller city it really does help us to leverage those additional resources and really those incredible collaborations that already exist in our community.
With the Chamber of Commerce we've partnered with them to deliver a hiring fair, a small business resource guide and a local business directory which is actually helping to connect our residents with over 700 local businesses.
The city is working hard to advocate for local farmers and growers of the city of pit medows.
Recognizing the importance of the agricultural sector to our local economy.
In 2023 the city updated its agricultural plant and created a brand new award-winning agricultural viability strategy.
And that's a comprehensive plan that looks at the long-term sustainability of agriculture for pit medows.
In preventives we have nearly 80% of land in the agricultural land reserve.
So anything that we can do to help them keep being productive and keep our farm base safe, we're proud of those actions.
In addition we are working with local agricultural communities.
We're gathering them together to have a stronger voice for agriculture as we seek funding for water services infrastructure and protect farmland.
These initiatives allow us to celebrate the rural character, foster environmental stewardship and create opportunities for education, recreation and economic development.
Not only are these initiatives driving local economic development, new investment and growth but they're also helping to maintain the small town community character that we care for so much here and supporting a vibrant community spirit.
Thank you.
So that video later this month will be shared to our social media channels and website and it will be time to complement very well with shopping local this holiday season.
I just wanted to take a minute to our second few seconds to think the mayor and city staff for the time energy and support in participating.
A big thanks to the communications team but in addition to our presenters there were so many staff members that were just you know their behind the scenes making our spaces available and helping us coordinate things.
And I also very importantly want to thank the local businesses volunteers the airport farmers market and videographers for the great collaboration.
It is our hope that after watching these videos council and the community feel connected to the city's vision of being pitmados proud.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Manager, great to open up to my colleagues if there's any questions or comments.
Thank you madam I just like to compliment the videos for sure and the work that you put into it but one of the things I think it enhances and amplifies is the fact we are a rule community.
This is a farming community almost 80% of the land.
Most people know as in the agricultural land reserve and of that 80% good majority is actually in farming right now.
And we should never forget that this is a place that grows food because food sustainability is an important and critical part of our future as a city.
So I'm glad that we certainly amplified that in those videos.
Thank you. Thank you, Councillor O'Connor. Thank you. That was awesome. All those, and it was the showcasing of what our communities
about, and it brought to my mind. A lady said to me the other day, she walks a lot in pit minutes, and she said,
you know it's unusual if someone doesn't smile and say hi to me. And she said, this is the community that does that. I am so proud of what
that showcases. And the only thing I'm concerned about is Mr. Ward may want people to sign autographs form or something.
It's all I'm saying. Thank you so much, Manager of Gradient Your Team. Just awesome. And the video
I think the two goals with this is primarily your city working for you. I think it was actually an
meeting with Director Mackie. One time, all the things that are being done in the city. And that's
only a portion of it. And city staff are so good at doing it, regardless of what it is, in terms of
pumps and dikes and roads and all those things. But we're not always good at talking about it or sharing it.
So I think that really is just a fraction to show some of the services that all goes into running
a eighth most livable city, a beautiful city, a safe city, a healthy city. As well, really I think we're
arguing so much about shop local about supporting our local farmers, our local suppliers, our producers,
we're in strange economic times, what can we do to attract healthy tourism and activists
to our community. So I think really timely and really well done by your group. So thank you, Tia.
With that, I don't think there was any motion. It was just an opportunity to share and celebrate. So
thank you very Jim Eddles Proud. Without we move on to the consent agenda, there's one items. We'll go
at a mover, moved and seconded any comments. Councillor Mead. Manion, pardon me.
Through the mayor. I just want to acknowledge the work that staff and council has done to put
these resolutions forward at the UBCM. I think it's vital considering we are 80% agricultural that at
every turn we support real agriculture to develop food security. You know, they all are, is a lovely
area, but it's meant for farming. It's not meant for other uses. So as we go through these resolutions
that were endorsed by UBCM, that's the constant theme and the constant message that we're getting across.
So appreciate everybody's efforts and thank you. Thank you, Councillor Reddinson.
Yeah, I too wanted to acknowledge a lot of work and effort that would into this. I had to
conceive by council. The changes that can benefit our city and our province from these. And I think that
as a farm today, and he was talking about the value of farmland and how it's been driven up by speculation
and people housing, make mansions or whatever you want to call it. It's a lifestyle, but they're not farming.
And that needs to be changed. And I think we spoke to that. And I think that when you look at the
response from the province, it would be easy to discredit and say, oh, they talk a little about it. But when you
see there, that it's been sent to the task force. I think that that's something we can be proud of.
That they're going to have a look at it. They're going to see what they can do and maybe we'll see some positive
and quick results on these. Yeah, great comments. And I just also just wanted to speak in terms of
those resolutions and in part it's to obviously get back to the roots and support food security and
farming on that land. That is why we've got almost 80% that is designated under the ALR. And if you look
further, it's also regarding taxation and tax loop holes there. And part of that is to prevent that
speculation. But it also goes into those videos that we just saw and as we move forward for budget
presentation coming up when we talk about budget, when we have a community that's almost 80%
agriculture that affects how we can service our community in the cost. Our agricultural land supplies
2.4% of our budget. Only 2.4% so 80% of the land is 2.4. That's under a million dollars towards our
budget actually 700,000. So not very much. So we might as well be farming it like it's supposed to and
we're happy to wear that banner in title. So really proud of the work collectively that's being done
for food security in terms of taxation. So with that, I will call the question all those in favor.
And that carries thank you. With that, we'll move on to reports. So we'll start with I1. And I will go to
our CEO Mark Roberts for the 2025 third quarter report to the community. Thank you Madam Mayor. So this
report's located on page 37 of your agenda package and I'll be referring to attachment A within that
report. As we know, the intent of the report is as a communication tool to express top of areas of public
interest that occurred during the third quarter of 2025 being July 1st to September 30th. For information,
the local paper will advertise attachment A later this month. Looking at the left side, the third quarter
report under Mayor and Council. And as you now know, members of Council attend the UBCM conference,
this past September, which is an avocation opportunity for many initiatives important for the
well-being of the PIP metals community. As you just heard, Council successfully put forward a resolution
that was endorsed to increase agricultural funding from the province of BC to align with the average
funding levels by other provinces in Canada. Next during this quarter, Graben Horst Garden officially
opened which garnered resounding public attendance and appreciation for its value to the community,
including meandering trails, beautiful plantings and orchard, an animal garden and showcased
of place of remembrance. True, there's special place for people to enjoy and relax.
The PIP metals art gallery remains very popular in its self-ponds and community center location,
and during this quarter, it featured the native art renaissance and Graben Horst Garden's exhibit
through the eyes of 12 local artists. We also celebrated a variety of summer packed free community
events, like Canada Day, the week-to-farmers market, summer serenade, and performances by the Emerald
Picks Society. And importantly, the city recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
and Orange Shirt Day to remember children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools.
See Hall was illuminated in Orange Lights, flags were half-mast, and trees and spirit square were
wrapped in Orange. Lastly, the city adopts first-ever climate action strategy to guide PIP metals
to build a resilient and sustainable future in the face of climate change. As you'll note on the right-hand
side of the report, includes a variety of interesting facts and stats in a infographic format,
one that I'll just bring your attention, the staff successfully tamed over 2.1 million in grant funding
to help us with a very project work. With that, that concludes my overview of this past quarter.
Thank you. Great. Thank you, CAO Roberts. I'll open up for any questions or comments from council.
Doesn't look like there's any. I'll just raise a couple of comments.
And maybe I'm just saying it out loud because I see staff Sergeant Luca out there in the background.
Our CMP and that property crime number of 224 is just driving me crazy.
In terms of, yeah, is that property crime? And we know we're seeing the graffiti and it's affecting
even our public spaces as well. So I just wanted to draw that out not to dwell in the negative here.
The positive I wanted to talk about was our parks record culture numbers. To know that we're servicing
all those 1500 summer camp participants. I think that's fabulous. As well as our art gallery,
attendance, grant, graven horse and even the men's he's crossing. So just shows how well you utilize
in a small community our arts and culture and recreation is. And that's just a snippet there. But
I'll talk with staff Sergeant Luca offline not to put her out of the spot there. With that, we do have a motion.
So move to the recommended motion. We don't see any additional comments. Call the question. All those in favor.
Excellent. So now move on to I2 and this is community safety update on E transportation. So with that, I will welcome director of engineering.
Samantha Mackie and our staff Sergeant Michelle Luca to provide an update on E bikes and E scooters in pet
metals. Welcome and thank you. Thank you very much. We know that this is a hot topic in the
community and this will be one of many conversations going on in the future. But wanted to give an update
from staff perspective and also the RCMP. In terms of background in case the community isn't
aware on steps we've taken to date. Not just E scooters but E bikes and other modes of active transportation
are concerned in the city and there's ways we can improve that and there's ways we can get education out there.
To date, bit of a summary on what we have done. Every year we do social media campaigns with the
help of the communications department to get information out there. I know social media is an outlet a lot of
people use to educate themselves. So anywhere we can blitz to get information out about the different types of
active transportation and things to be aware of whether it's reflective clothing and being able to share
certain areas with multi users, speeding other things like that, having information out there just to
help remind the community. We also have a webpage for active transportation and road safety. There's
this very small snippet of it up there on the city's website and there's drop down tables for each type
of active transportation and the rules around them. It isn't straightforward in terms of
E bikes and E scooters and different speeds and different regulations. In general, E scooters are not
allowed in the city. We are not part of the pilot projects that some other communities are and that
kind of leads me into the next point. We have a research to a number of cities who are part of pilot projects
and those that aren't to kind of see how they're dealing with this issue and it's very much
is a broad issue. It's not specific to pit medows in terms of E scooters and E bikes,
but even those communities that are part of the provincial pilot program are seeing challenges and really
the city of pit medows doesn't have the infrastructure to support safe use of E scooters. That's
really why city staff don't support being part of the pilot project and inviting more E scooters into
the city. They're not allowed on the roads, they're not allowed in bike lanes, they're not allowed. Having said
that, the focus is really on unsafe behavior of those mechanisms. So people who aren't wearing helmets
who are going really fast, who aren't cautious or when they're passing people around other people
because they can be at high speeds. In terms of communication with other cities,
everybody's struggling with it from enforcement, bylaws, RCMP, fines, and really their focus edge
education. It's not something that's emerged over the last year. It's been many years, but it's
still new in the sense of things and really unless we go down the road of implementing infrastructure
specific to E scooters or have a program around it, encouraging that use isn't something
staff recommend at this point, but really getting information out there. What's allowed? What's not allowed?
So in terms of the, it was mentioned, one of the questions that came up with the question in comment
period about the city's community safety working group. And really that's a newer group that we've
created and changed over the last year to really focus on all the feedback we receive from the
community. We do track all the concerns that come in in our summary spreadsheets so that we can look at
themes and issues in certain hotspots and really have a good sense of issues as a whole in the city.
And then the RCMP bylaws, communications, engineering, ICBC, and the school district are part of that
group. We come together and talk about, we just had our first meeting a few months ago,
talk about some of the issues and one of the biggest ones was E scooters. And there was a number of
actions that came out of that discussion. The reason why it's an internal or staff-led working group is just
so that we can get into the specifics and really work on action. We hear the issues allowed and clear
from the community and we very much valued the input we get through phone calls and submissions and
emails and we're tracking all of that. And we did also reach out to the city of Maple Ridge.
We shared some of the outcomes that came from the working group, which I'll talk to on in the next slide
and they're seeing similar issues. So it's widespread. In terms of our upcoming plans that came out of
our internal working group, the first item was to help distribute information. So our communications team
put together a flyer with input from various parties on the different modes of transportation
and what's allowed, what isn't allowed. And that has been sent through the school district's
communication portal out to the schools and parents to start for information, planning on giving it
update tonight. And then there's a webinar on November 26th, which you have to register for and it
was sent out through the school's communication portal. Deepak is a sponsor or leaning the
the webinar and the RCMP is going to be presenting a summary of what was in that flyer that was
distributed and there'll be a question in the comment period at the end to help clarify.
Some of the unknowns that are out there. The RCMP recently got e-bikes, but I will let staff sergeant
Luca speak to that and enforcement around that. We do plan to collaborate further in the future
probably the spring with ICBC and their licensing program for new drivers and the RCMP is part
of that as well. And ICBC mentioned bike rodeos that they had and really we could partner with hub or
other groups to put on education platforms, have kids out there and put together a race course and
the RCMP would be involved with that too just to help demonstrate what safe active transportation is and help
educate. And then lastly, on this list, but there's a few lists going around, is to look at our trails.
The picture of the bottom there is a gate that we're put in along the south in pit meadows, Metro Vancouver's
pit river greenway to block bikes in certain areas. And that was put up during COVID, but it also kind of sparked
further discussion of where bikes and e-bikes should be located and where maybe we wanted to
turn that activity. So combined users looking at how to make that safe. And with that, I'll pass it over to you.
Sorry, I've never sat here. I've always been at the podium. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council and the public.
Each transportation is one of those things that, as time progresses and technology moves forward, so does each
transportation and we are learning along with it.
With our enforcement and whatnot, but the most important thing I can if I can empathize empathize, oh my goodness, I can't even say words right now.
The most important thing right now is safety. And ultimately, whether you're a young person, a youth, an adult,
we really have to focus on the safety and the safe use of e-transportation. So this slide here just shows you the types of
different e-transportation. And I do think there's a lot of misunderstanding around a lot of them. I think e-bike is very you.
It's used very loosely for a lot of items. In this one, you can see e-bikes are broken down to standard and light.
And you've got your e-kick scooters, which it's an important one to bring up is they're not allowed here in pit meadows,
but everyone's going to say they're here. Limited speed motorcycles, off-road vehicles, electric wheelchairs and
mobility scooters, even those are bypassing what is legal right now. And then other unauthorized vehicles.
Let's move forward here. So let's talk about e-bikes first. e-bikes have been around for a long time. You can get them online.
You can buy them in Costco, buy them at your local bike stores. Are they all legal? So how they're they're distinguished?
You've got your standard e-bikes. You must be 16 years or older. And the maximum speed is 32 kilometers an hour.
I'm sure if I asked everyone in this room, have you seen an e-bike go faster than 32 kilometers an hour?
You're probably saying, well, yeah, I'm going 50 and they're bypassing me. Those are not e-bikes.
I'll get to that. Again, the maximum motor power 500 watts that goes with that speed. You're throttle assist.
You must have a throttle assist and you must worry bicycle helmet. Now you're light e-bikes.
So interestingly enough, when the government came out with e-bikes laws, originally they only had the standard e-bikes laws.
And then not long after they added the light e-bikes. So these ones here, you can be 14 to ride.
So a lot of people don't realize it. 14 year olds. Yes, they can ride light e-bikes.
Maximum speed 25 kilometers an hour. Again, the motor you can see is only 250 watts.
throttle assist. No. Must wear a bicycle helmet again. And there's just a little bit here but what qualifies.
But these light e-bikes, I'm going to say most people out there are riding standard e-bikes or not e-bikes.
So I'm going to move on actually, you know what before I move on to the next slide. So what I'll tell you, so a limited speed motorcycle.
That's another one. So a limited speed motorcycle, a great example is a Vespa.
We don't only see them around here. Go to Italy, go to Europe. That's all you see right? Vespa's.
So a Vespa or a little bit a limited speed motorcycle because a maximum speed of 70 kilometers an hour with or without pedals.
A max weight. It also has no here. You must wear and approved motor cycle helmet. It's very different.
They're not permitted all multi-youth past cycle lanes or anywhere where more vehicles are not permitted.
And the driver must possess a driver's license and the driver must have valid insurance.
So you must have insurance on these limited speed motorcycles. Now, let's get to what most people are riding right now.
Off road vehicles. Here is where you're going to find your serons and your other e-bikes or what people are labeling as e-bikes.
These are all terrain vehicles, including quads, utility vehicles, including side by side, gators, snowmobile snow vehicles, golf carts, motorcycles, slash dirt bikes.
And then restricted use motorcycles. So this is your talaria, your seron electric bikes. These guys go very fast.
These serons are the one you're buying online. You just go online. You can buy them. There's no regulation on there.
Doesn't say you can't be buying them, but people are buying them. Now, these here you must wear and approved motorcycle helmet.
And you must have insurance and you must have a driver's license. Where this gets difficult is even our system has not caught up to these devices yet to even have the ability to get insurance.
So there are multiple issues because they are considered dirt bikes. They're supposed to be off road. They're not supposed to be on our road.
There are some insurance companies who will provide insurance, but often you'll go places and they don't actually have the knowledge around these yet because it is still very new.
A lot of parents are buying these for their kids, not realizing. A 16 year old could be riding one of these and they can get a no insurance ticket.
$600. Just under $600. They can get a no driver's license ticket. Also a ticket for not wearing the proper helmet.
And then when they go to get their driver's license, they are in some hot water because they'll have all these tickets. Even if you don't have a driver's license, it'll generate a number for you and that those fines will follow once you go to get your driver's license.
So this information session we're doing next week with parents is really around education safety because no 14, 15, 16 year old needs to be going faster than 25 or 32 kilometers.
Now to be fair guys, no adult should be going that fast on one of these devices unless they have a proper gear. You have your shoulder pads and your elbow pads and your knee pads.
If you go flying off one of those things 70, 80 kilometers an hour, it's pretty dangerous. Again, so this is our safety.
Brief next week. Now we'll move on to your e-kick scooters. They're not allowed here in pit medows. So this is a really tough one. Pit medows is not part of the project.
So no matter where you are in pit medows are part of the pilot project. No matter where not on sidewalks, not on the street, not on trails.
It is a, it is a larger issue like Sam said, I live in porcuculum. I can tell you they're everywhere. Porcuculum is not part of the project either the pilot project. They're everywhere.
So from a policing enforcement perspective, we're really focusing on safety.
And what are you buying for your children educating people? Because I'll tell you right now if you haven't seen this Google it just for your own entertainment.
There was an e-scuder on highway one on the number one line between number one and HLV in Burnaby.
Go in 80 kilometers an hour because there are e-scuders that also go too fast for even what's allowed.
Like e-bikes, there are limitations to speed on e-scuders in the pilot project cities, but even there people go out and buy e-scuders that are far more powerful and far more dangerous than what's allowed.
It is a problem everywhere. So from our perspective, it is really something you'll see seven year olds and they're on their little e-scuders going two kilometers an hour.
And then you've got the ones doing wheelies on their e-bikes. You've got them everywhere.
With our e-bikes that we've just secured very exciting and I would like to say through funding. So outside funding, I was able to get a bit of a grant for those.
We are using those for multiple reasons e-bikes allow us into areas we can't get to on vehicles.
And I'm a bike-trained member and it's quite interesting how people don't realize you're the police even if I'm fully geared up and we have to wear bright yellow.
And we'll come up and they don't realize you're there. So the e-bikes are a really good tool that works excited to put out.
We just need mother nature to work with us a little bit better and also we can not get out there. We've been out there once or twice so far and you should be seeing us on good days.
That's it.
Great. Thank you. I'm going to open it up for any questions.
Councillor Matt.
Yeah, I guess more or less a comment to start with.
I am delighted that you have those e-bikes and we can start fighting back as it were.
One of the things, do we do any enforcement in the city and bylaws with bicycles that or e-scooters or whatever that do not have any bells or horns?
Because that is becoming those that no may know I walk a lot and the issue is is that especially with seniors and I'm in that category.
When you're walking and especially an e-bike comes up behind you with their completely silent and if you haven't been walking a dog, if you step the wrong direction, we're going to have a mess.
So it's one of the areas that's kind of not really talked about, but it's something we talk a lot about bike safety and so on, but we really need to start enforcing that because it is a threat.
And again, glad to hear that we've got e-bikes and again, our sidewalks from 730 to 9 o'clock in the morning are mayhem.
When you have bicycles, people with dogs, e-scooters and little children walking on the sidewalks, it's mayhem.
We have to do something and I think some of the moves that we've made here are going to go some distance in that, but we're also like education is a tremendous thing and I'm not discouraged you get it all but we have to have some enforcement.
Somebody's got a pay.
I'll go over to Dr. Mackie and Steph's urgent move.
Through the mayor, the focus hasn't really been on enforcement and honestly, you could throw a lot of things that you want to enforce on, but the starting point is going to be education and warnings.
We do put on collaboratively with with hub cycling education each year in the schools and part of that is etiquette.
And when to ring a bell and know we heard earlier that you know it's loud we don't want to ring it well that's the intended purpose of it.
So I think that's where we would continue in terms of information out there etiquette signage about that.
Once you get to to finding that's more challenging and and we're already having challenges with what we do impose fines and things on.
So adding one more item we might get better compliance if we distribute information regarding etiquette and education.
One follow up is as I think we need to have some sort of metrics.
You know when you're talking about education we have to have something that we aren't sitting here next year talking about the very same thing.
How do we develop metrics around this that say okay here's what we had right now here's the mayhem that's on the street we're talking about him and Blakely this year.
You know whether that's monitoring is like monitoring traffic and so that we can refer back any years time and say here's here's the advances we've made otherwise I think we're just going to be talking about this for years.
Through the mayor we are going to be talking about this for years regardless of what happens I'm sure.
And how many Blakely will we'll talk about that in the next item and I think we have some good plans there in terms of metrics the hospitals don't even have metrics in terms of.
incidents that come through what were they on any bike any scooter what was the situation they're not tracking it that way and even when we get reports through the city.
People don't know the difference between a standard bike a light e-scooter it's just they were on a device normally it's called an e-scooter because that's what's on people's minds and it's very difficult even.
You know our bylaws staff if they're out there to distinguish between a light e-bike and a standard e-bike sometimes you need equipment to be able to even assess that or it's it's been rated for something and the sticker on it says something but it's been altered so I think.
to want to get to the point of metrics understand the the reasoning and wanting to be able to measure and track which way we're trending when we are another I just don't think.
We're there yet and I don't know that we have enough information and all cities are struggling with this on education and.
How to crack down on it and how we're tracking it. Because it just isn't enough knowledge out there at this point, but I don't know if there's more to add.
Through the mayor, I just wanted to speak a little bit about the enforcement question. We are enforcing. I don't want you to think that there isn't enforcement. The priority is safety and education right now. However, when we're able, and I say to catch them, we will enforce.
The problem is we won't chase and oftentimes people on these devices are taken off and they're running from us for writing from us.
I suppose is a better way to put it. We're not going to chase because that now poses a safety risk.
However, when we can, we will, and we've called parents, we've educated parents. Again, if there's a moment when we can give a violation ticket, we will.
And we have both in Maple Region, Pet Meadows. We've had circumstances where we have given out those tickets. The most important thing we need to call parents, when they are youth, but it's not just youth. It's adults as well.
It's across the board. And I just want to echo what Sam said. It is a really difficult thing to track, even within, you know, collisions right now.
There's not even a good matrix as to determining what kind of device they're on because you've also got unicycles and you've got those hover boards and you've got all these different types of modes of transportation.
We can't keep up and I guarantee you we'll be talking about this next year and they'll be a portfolio of other things that'll be there.
And we'll be laughing that we talked about this last year, but unfortunately it's going, it's going, it's going to keep going.
Yeah, it's incredibly complex and progressing, Director Mackie.
Through the mayor, I know we're focusing on some of the challenges, but just to speak a little bit about the positive, which we didn't really do.
And our presentation, because we were focusing on all the things we're trying to educate on.
But all the modes of active transportation, whether it's e-bikes, e-scooters, light, standard, whatever we're calling them, they do provide a good means of getting around and the people who do it safely.
It's, it's not a bad idea. They just need to be aware and they need to be considerate of others and they need to follow the rules.
And that's why our focus is on those that are acting unsafe and engaging others.
But because there's been such an uptake and there will continue to be, we don't want to discourage, you know, the young kids that are operating safely and doing things right.
And I know it gets a bad name in terms of various active transportation modes, but there is a lot out there that are operating safely.
So finding that balance of encouraging what's allowed and having that throughout our city, while also discouraging the unsafe behavior is a tricky thing to navigate.
But yeah.
Yeah, thank you for raising that director Mackie. I think there's a piece as we try to have a more accessible, inclusive affordable means to get around.
We talk about climate initiatives.
Because one of the questions I can hear, well, if you're not allowed to scooters, why aren't you just taking them away.
And maybe I'll go over to to staff Sergeant Luke on that, because I think some of our main writers are the young kids going to elementary school, for example.
And a lot are doing it really well, but maybe you can speak to that. Is it, if they're not allowed, why are you not taking them away?
Absolutely. A lot of writers. And like I said, I've seen 78, 9, 10 year olds riding safely with their matching helmets and their scooters and they're very safe and we're not going to take them away from them.
This world is becoming very difficult to navigate for most people.
And when parents can find a means to help out and within the household get kids, you know, somewhere safely.
Again, if they're doing it in a safe manner, I'm not in a position to take that away from them. Again, like you said, the ones and actually let me go back adults as well.
I know a lot of adults who are using each transportation because of cost.
Cost is far better. All they have to do is plug it in to charge it up, saving on gas, better for the environment.
And they're getting from point A to point B. There's a lot of people using our airport businesses, they're getting their own scooters.
E scooters and they're getting their safely. We are not out there if they're doing it in a safe manner. We are not out there to to punish them or challenge them at that point.
Our focus is really the ones who are causing problems on the road.
There is an education piece. So because there are, you will see the odd person like a normal bicycle where it's a red light and they think they can run through the red light.
I've seen that numerous times, right? So there's just an education piece overall, even for our good writers, but we're not, I don't have the capacity. Unfortunately, where are my story and our lesie scooters?
Could you imagine, I could probably have a full-time unit of just seas in these scooters daily, and where would I seize them and store them?
Yeah, you in the rest of the lower blind date. And I go to Councilor Manions Point. We talk about bad drivers, how long have we been driving, right? It's the same. We'll be having these conversations. Absolutely. Councilor Mechan.
Thank you, madam. I think the funniest one I saw was, in the news a couple of months ago, there was an e-scooter going through the George Massey tunnel on 99.
Do you remember that one? Yeah, that was actually a video on YouTube incredible. Thanks for the presentation. I call this timely.
It's something that's on social media constantly now. We get emails about this all the time, and I did a little research.
And it's not just hospitals that don't categorize what caused an accident, what caused an injury, statistics, Canada.
I actually took the time and geek coming in again. I took the time to go and write to stats, can, because I couldn't find sub-categories of all these powered bikes.
They were great. They came back with a massive amount of data. The numbers are staggering, but they still don't sub-categorize to the point where you can really delineate between the big powerful stuff and the lighter bikes.
But it's what's being imported into North America, not just Canada.
Mostly from China, a low cost bikes. It's millions, literally millions of these bikes. So what used to be a few years back, a curiosity, is now that wonderful word, they've become ubiquitous everywhere, all day, every hour of the day.
And I think what you're telling me is, to my opinion, shared with yours, safety is number one, and therefore education has to be the first thing.
I'm really pleased to hear that we're not focused on punishing safe users, but we're trying to curb the knots of safe users and the real down and out idiots that are on the road right now. We heard some stories.
I bet you everybody in this room tonight has got a personal story about e-bikes. Similar to the council of Manion, I also walk my puppy along the greenway walks every day.
And when they come up behind you on the greenway, it's not so bad, because you can hear the gravel crunching.
But if it's on a road or a paved area, you're in trouble, and it's scary. I also am a senior citizen, so I don't walk as fast and not quite as good of hearing maybe.
And sometimes they shoot past and it shocks me and it shocks my dog.
I would say, as a council and staff, there are things we can be doing immediately in terms of safety.
And one of the things you made mentioned of was adding updates on the metro side of the greenway, which those staggered gates make people get off walk through them and then get back on.
I like that type of gate. I've already talked directly with CEO Robots about one point in particular that I'm aware of, where the bikes are coming around a complete blind bend and upper steep rise at the same point where everyone's walking on the greenway.
It's really not safe.
So I think for an immediate reaction to what can we do to increase the safety now today, that's the type of thing we could be doing more off.
Getting people to get off the bike before they approach an area where pedestrians would be.
I think I got pretty much all of it, but thanks for this timely report, and I could see by the way, while we were talking, everybody in the audience was listening.
And I think a lot of us have learned stuff tonight, especially on the technical side of things that we had no clue about.
So I think it's been valuable. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm going to go over to CEO Robots.
Thank you, Madam Mayor, I just want to quickly mention that speaking with Diana and I know it was in the presentation a little bit earlier that there is the intention to review pathways, dikes and trails from that lens of where there are opportunities to create less conflicts as it relates to pedestrians and.
The transportation call it and I know she has a couple thoughts already, but she wants to take the city it's an entirety and make sure that we're looking at all areas where their proven can be made where there's more like the huffer for conflict.
Great. Thank you. And I know Diana is a director of parks wreck and culture, just for for those.
So she'll oversee all those trails. Yes, lots of different aspects and collaboration needed.
Thank you for highlighting some of the positives.
We know that they're environmental and they give some people who have disabilities a sense of freedom again to write a bike.
Also, I think that down to the airport, we don't have very good traffic or transit. We've talked about this and it's a way for people to get around economically, you can't afford a car.
So I like them. I understand that but we've all seen the dangerous behavior. I don't think there's anyone who hasn't seen anything.
But I do believe a lot of it falls on parents and education. So working with the pack. I'm glad I think that's going to be effective.
I'm also we do have issues on the dates. We received a report where a dog was hit by any bike. I mean, the dog's okay, but it is a concern. It's something that people need to be aware of.
And yeah, a lot of it, I think, is to come down to that dangerous behavior. And we don't want anyone to get hurt.
So the work you're doing, I'm really, really glad I'm also really glad to hear that you're getting bikes.
The bikes for, so as a volunteer, I used to ride the bike and do the volunteer patrols for the RCMP.
So I'm also aware of how you will be able to contact many more people. And I think that it'll be great.
Lots of education will come of that. Anyways, I'm glad we're doing this. I don't want anyone to get hurt.
I don't want anyone to get hurt, but I do see the positives. So thank you.
Great. Councilor O'Connor.
Thank you. I just wanted to say that I'm happy. This is the only time I will ever say that I'm happy that it's raining because the conflicts that have occurred this past summer down at Starbucks.
And how many elderly people have had near misses because there's a couple of, and they're not kids.
They're in their 50s. And they ride, it looks like I dirt bike, but it's not.
It's one of those fancy, fancy electric bikes that's zoomed up.
And they've even got an artificial plate on the back of it to make it look like it's a plate.
And then there's a group of scooters, e scooters that come in. And it's a group of five girls. It's not guys. It's girls.
And they whip through there so fast. And it's very dangerous.
But I'm more concerned about the young people. And I believe their young guys, maybe 14 to 16, that are always in black.
And what they do is they cross in front of the coachman.
They can that cross what they're. And they cross at Harris in front of where the new police station's going to be.
But they wait until the light changes. And they go up to opposite traffic. It scares the heck out of me.
And I've been through it with them in the honk my horn. And of course they swore in yellow that I didn't hear.
But I'm more concerned about that kind of behavior. I think. And I'm happy that you're just.
That you're not finding like not going out spending all your time chasing them.
We can't afford that. But we need to get a hold of these parents and these young adults.
So think that this is funny. And I appreciate why they use them.
But I don't appreciate the chaos that's causing in this community. And that's my concern.
Councillor Alkie.
Thank you. What a what a good discussion this is.
I've used e-bikes on our dikes. And it was awesome.
The benefit of that is that we could go further and explore more of the dikes.
And it made me aware that there's a lot of people maybe at different fitness levels.
And by using an e-bike, which is it was a hybrid, right?
You pedaled some and then when you got a little tired, gave you a little bit of support.
But it allows people recreation opportunity and to experience the 60 kilometers of dikes that we have.
So there are benefits. I don't believe it's the bikes. It's the the users, the operators.
Because I've been walking on the dikes and I've had conflict with cyclists, not electric cyclists.
Five across people usually come in from another community and taking over our dikes.
I've had conflicts with walkers and dogs.
So I think in general it's how are we conducting ourselves when we are embracing our dikes and pathways and sidewalks.
How are we functioning is it responsible or we safe?
One of my biggest fears besides rats and mice are children on bikes.
I freak out what I see because they're all over the place so that's even a hazard, right?
So I think in general awareness is key, the safety.
You know, and we got to think big picture here why what's the benefit of we're getting out there, right?
We're enjoying ourselves. I remember skateboards too.
Service concern, and then we got used to that, or any new things. So, I think you're doing the best that you can with educating, and I think this is something for years that we are going to have these conversations and talk about it. We've talked about horses on the dikes too.
Like we've talked about all kinds of things over the years when something new comes up and how do we, you know, how do we like live together with all of these pieces? Yeah, thank you.
Staffs are not looking. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to follow up.
We have planned this presentation next week and in a timely manner, next week is Black Friday.
It's typically when there's a lot of purchases being made for Christmas. So we are trying to get out to parents. So if they are making those purchases, they can quickly cancel or return before Christmas.
This is also not the first time we've gone down this road. So we did do this last year. We worked very closely with Pettmato secondary and their administrative team, their lovely and they were very much on board.
They talked to the kids there. They were actually not allowing the kids to come even on any kind of e-bike to the school. The school's been very supportive.
The kids find other ways. So they always do find other ways when it's, you know, it's a kid. They'll always find another way. But we do have the community is involved and there may be the ones and then wearing black and doing those stunts.
It is scary. I've seen videos. We can't identify them because they are all in black and it's very difficult, but we know they're there. We're looking.
Thank you. No. Thank you for those comments. And I think just them and Director Mack you started in your presentation that there's been a number of items to date and a lot of collaboration and conversations with the school district and the high school and ICBC and RCMP and we've even had conversations with Fraser Health regarding head injuries and the hospitals.
So everybody's very aware and and trying a multitude of different ways and it's a collaborative approach and whether it's gates on bike paths or educational awareness or depac things like that. So I think just keep the communication going.
I will say we did. It's very public. It was the parent even posted on social media. We had a young child that was in ICU because of an accident on one of these bikes.
I frankly say it didn't really do a darn thing. It didn't stop the friend group. It didn't stop even my understanding is the user. So you as a parent and as somebody in the community, you kind of shake your head and so hopefully collectively we can just try to keep things safe for an educate.
I think the community for continuing to raise this and and Council for the conversation and I think next step. So obviously the e-bikes out and some of these things and through RCMP and our staff will continue to report back as things come up. So with that, I don't think there was a motion.
Yes, so see for information, part of me moved in seconded. I'll call the question all those in favor. Thank you very much. We'll now move on to I three and that is traffic operations safety review report. This is Hammond and Blakely and I welcome our manager of engineering Ashley seed.
Good evening, Mary and Council. Tonight we'll be presenting the key findings from the traffic operation safety review for the Hammond and Blakely road intersection including the recommendations mitigation measures and proposed accepts.
The traffic operation safety review was initiated and response to several factors including ongoing community food feedback including safety concerns at the intersection anticipated growth and development in the surrounding areas.
The intersection's proximity to two schools within a 400 meter radius making it a primary route for school age pedestrians. Additionally, Hammond road is identified as a key corridor for a future pedestrian and cycling upgrades as laying outlined in the city's actor transportation plan.
I'm just for this work the city partnered with ICBC through their road improvement program to cost share the study.
What consulting group was retained to complete the technical review and their team conducted a detailed assessments that included reviewing the physical layout and date to date operation of the intersection analyzing collision history and trends and completing onsite observations to understand driver's cyclist and pedestrian behavior.
The review highlighted several safety challenges at this intersection affecting drivers cyclist and pedestrians.
One of the biggest issues identified was driver behavior things like running yellow or even red lights and inconsistent or incorrect lane positioning which then leads to unpredictable movements.
Bike lanes are unprotected and there's a lack of pavement markings and signage to clearly delineate the bike lanes contributing to the observed inconsistent cyclist behavior.
Pedestrian activity is very high especially during school start and dismissal times this creates conflict points with vehicles turning through the crosswalks which increases the risk for pedestrians.
The mitigation measures staff report are support are to finalize the formalized traffic movements on Hammond Road by adding designated left turn lanes and combine through right turn lanes.
This will require removing on street parking approaching intersection and will help reduce unpredictable lane behavior and improves overall traffic flow.
Additionally, relocate the Hammond bike lane directly adjacent to the sidewalk and adding a precast curve to separate the bike lane from the traveling.
This creates a much safer and more comfortable space for cyclists.
Third on the bike or the Blakely approach short section of protective bike lanes at the intersection.
And finally upgrade the signage and add grim pavement markings throughout the cycling areas and across the intersection.
This visually reinforces and helps drivers understand where cyclists are expected to be and helps improve safety for everyone using the space.
From an implementation standpoint.
First we would start by applying for funding through Translings Rapid Implementation Cossure Program.
As the deadline for the 2026 program was October 31st, staff crampedively worked with Translings staff to submit a placeholder application for this project.
contingent on councils approval to formally proceed.
The Rapid Implementation Cossure Program is designed specifically for quick build active transportation upgrades and in some cases it can find up to 100% of the project costs.
Securing this grant would obviously significantly reduce or eliminate the city's financial contribution.
If supported by council, the detailed design would be added to the 2026 capital roadworks design package, which already includes the Hammond Road segment from Blakely to Bonson.
This allows us to coordinate all of the improvements together efficiently.
Construction would then be spring 2027 aligning both with the city's roadwork construction schedule and with Translings quick build expectations under the Rapid Implementation Program, which requires timely delivery once funding is approved.
The estimated design construction cost for these upgrades is roughly 348,000.
With councils approval, the intern recommendations for design would be included with the forthcoming 2026 business plan.
Ideally with successful in being successful in securing Translings Rapid Implementation grant.
As mentioned, the program can fund up to 100% of quick build safety improvements on major bike on the major bike network.
Because Hammond is just off the ambient, even if the application is successful, a partial security contribution may still be expected.
For example, something around 25% and that contribution can be accommodated for and could be covered through the city's DCC active transportation fund or through the annual active transportation capital budget.
If we are unsuccessful in obtaining the 2026 Rapid Implementation grant, staff would explore additional available funding opportunities through the 2027 grant cycle while moving forward with plans to include the construction through the 2027 business planning process, aligning with the roadwork's plan in 2027 for the corridor.
Impleant, minting the dedicated left turn lanes and protective light lanes along Harris will require moving on straight parking in front of roughly 12 properties that currently have street parking public parking front unit property.
That number will be confirmed during the detailed design, but this isn't unexpected as the active transportation plan does identify this corridor as a location where parking reduction would be necessary to accommodate future cycling infrastructure.
From a communication standpoint, the community is being informed through this report and through future business planning processes.
As detailed design implementation would currently be dependent on grant funding, once they'll come up with the grant funding is known properties fronting the project area on Hammond Road would be informed by a letter which would include information on the removal of street parking.
staff recognize that changes to ensuite parking can be challenging for adjacent residents while the affected properties generally have driveways and grudges that provide off street parking.
Some households may have more vehicles than available space and some parking displacement into adjacent blocks may occur, staff will monitor these impacts and work to minimize inconveniences for possible.
Before we touch on the recommendation before council, I just wanted to cover off some of the questions that came up at the first question and comment period which might not have been captured yet.
First one was about no rights on a red.
It's not really about from staff's perspective, it isn't about the signage costs.
It's more so about compliance. So if there's some intersections in the community that have no rights on a red but not all.
And it's not consistent through various municipalities it becomes very difficult for people to be aware there's a lack of consistency and that could create a false sense of safety that yes you're not supposed to turn on a red.
Right on a red but but people will still do that so there's some concerns there and and the intention with the leading pedestrian intervals specifically at this crossing as well is to give pedestrians ahead start in the crossing which can help avoid some of those conflict areas.
So that's why the city doesn't have no rights on a red throughout the city or in localized areas just because of those concerns.
We could do something different but that's a staff's perspective currently.
There was comments about 30 kilometers per hour a long lately road and potentially speed bumps in the future.
That is contemplated in the city's active transportation plan when we go to implement the neighborhood bike way the full route it would be looked at holistically we want to make sure.
When we implement things like speed cushions yes the fire department is impacted in emergency services and buses but at the same time we don't want to put on.
and speed cushions on a route that pushes the traffic to shortcut on another area we don't want to make another area worse and one area better so we want to look at it holistically there have been.
requests for traffic calming along the Blakely one nineteen one ninety-third stretch in the past and the traffic data the city has collected to date doesn't show.
Significant amount of speeding there's always outliers but the the 85 percentile was not significantly above the posted speed limit.
Having said that there's always improvements that can be made and we definitely focus around schools but we want to do that in a full some way.
That's well thought out with with speakers and signage and narrowing of intersections and having that full route completed at one time rather than ad hoc implementations.
In terms of extension of the bike lanes or the protected bike lanes the intent with the interim scope that we presented here tonight it doesn't go from Blakely to Bonson it just on either side of the approaches to this intersection.
This study was specific to the intersection there's still much more in the active transportation plan along Hammond Blakely Harris but the focus was the intersections specifically with with feedback we've received to date.
And other than that I think I covered it but if there's any additional comments or questions I'm happy to answer them and with the motion tonight to support the interim recommendations that we're planned we know that there will be an impact of parking and that upsets.
Things people people feel like that's there on street parking it's in front of their home although our active transportation outlines that we would have a loss of street parking on one side or the other along this road in the future if we were to implement the full recommendations.
And if we don't have to have street parking next to active transportation zones that helps minimize conflicts as well I know there's more cars and we've heard about it earlier today than there there is.
a higher need for it and we'll see more and more parking and that might sprawl out as we make those those changes to the on street parking but.
we're hoping that the benefits of doing this for cyclists pedestrian the vulnerable users kind of always that impact but we do expect when we go send out letters.
There might be a few that aren't too happy about that component but there is a lot of benefits of the project so we've already applied for the grant funding but we've waited to say.
If we get council support, and then we would submit that, depending on what happens tonight.
Thank you so much. Sorry. See you all, Robert, should you ever hand up?
No, just moving. Thank you. Everybody's got a stretch, right? I'll open up for any questions from Council.
You know, no questions?
It's been moved, so open up to comment.
I am so glad we're looking at this intersection. It is not a minute too soon.
When I talk to my kids, my kids, friends, the families I know, the comment that was made to me was,
I feel like a terrible parent because I can't trust to let my kid walk through that intersection.
I can't give them that independence and that freedom because it's that dangerous.
So the fact that we're going to make this safer, it's going to have a huge ripple effect from the parents, the kids, the first responders who have to attend these accidents.
I just think that this is a really, really important thing we're doing.
As we look at the traffic that comes through that intersection, as we make it safer for kids to, kids, parents, everybody to cycle and walk, there's going to be less cars.
It's a bonus, it's a benefit, it's a benefit to our environment, it's a benefit activity.
We know that it affects kids, mental health, all of their ability.
This is something that if you talk to anyone, there's so many close calls there. We've had actual incidents there.
So I'm excited to see this. I can't wait.
I would like to see more about the right turns on the reds.
I know we don't do it everywhere, but it doesn't mean it can't be a first.
Maybe it's certain hours and things because we know that statistically that improves pedestrian safety.
We know that the bike lanes improves safety of the cyclists.
So it's something I'm super passionate about. You guys hear me about it all the time and I'm really excited.
We're going to go, hopefully, go ahead with this.
I know that people are going to be upset about parking, but when we talk about 12 properties impacted, I went and I walked it yesterday.
There's none that don't have driveways that can't facilitate multi cars.
And so some of them have built out little pads on there for parking to be able to navigate.
So the inconvenience that could come with those cars for the potential to save lives to make kids feel safe and free and benefits that come with this.
I'm all for it. I'll be supporting it. I hope you guys do too.
Thank you, Madam Mayor.
Yeah, I would like to just reiterate the idea of a 30K zone.
I hope that that does get some traction as things move forward,
because as it was stated, people just speed up in the 50s on and then break hard in the 30s.
It makes no sense at all.
And so I'd like to see that being implemented as things move ahead.
I completely agree with Councillor Evans.
The inconvenience that we'll be caught in better life, you'll get the emails and the phone calls for sure.
But that stretcher road has become so busy.
It is so fast. Even as an experienced driver, you've got to have your wits about you.
You really do.
Every one of us uses Hammond Road probably at least four or five times a week,
and most of them.
I know several of my colleagues here live, go down Hammond Road, and every day of the week.
So we all know about the parking issues on both sides.
But again, they've got driveways, but there's going to be some pushback on that.
I completely support this. I'm glad we're doing it.
I'm also not happy that we can utilize the funding that's available right now.
So we've got to move on this.
That funding won't be there forever.
And if there's an amount that the city has to kick in, I think it's worth doing.
And I noticed that you're putting it in, but the road plans normal road will plan anyway.
So it's all a win-win as far as I'm concerned and a couple of side issues that likely will be in a problem.
The staff to deal with in 2027.
Yeah.
So completely support.
And that's, let's do this 30K thing, please.
And I could think of a few more streets I'd like to see that then on too.
Thank you.
I'd love to speak about the 30K thing.
And the reason I'm speaking about it is I live on Harris Road in the
Schozon, which is 30K.
Guess what, if there's police there, it's okay.
Otherwise, no, it doesn't work.
And if you put 30K on that street, who's going to monitor it?
You know, we're, we're upset tonight because we've got all these e scooters racing around, driving people crazy.
Unfortunately, we don't live in a society that people just only go 30K.
We've got a 30K down by airport way, and in the special subdivision non-bonds in there, this special zone.
It's 30K.
People don't do it.
It's ridiculous.
Anyways, my opinion.
About the parking on Hammond Road, I could care.
A lot of the people who live in these places have closed the garage as often, meet sweets in them.
And, uh, it's sorry about your luck.
Under the new provincial building thing, we aren't going to be allowed to build for parking.
Like we're going to have to figure it out.
So, that doesn't concern me at all.
I'm sorry.
I won't be on council when you have to deal with it.
But I'm just telling you that I'm not concerned about it.
I support this.
I'm sure this is going to be other areas that come to us and say,
What about my neighborhood?
My intersection is bad.
And you have to appreciate the fact that there's got to be a start somewhere.
But that's just my own personal opinion from living on Harris Road for as many years as I have.
I don't know what the answer is for traffic.
But I don't support turning the whole thing into a 30K.
Thank you.
I just want to say a huge thank you to staff on this.
And I really would encourage the community members to take a look at our 2023 active transportation plan.
We've done a lot of different foundational work over this term parks wreck and culture master plan,
the agriculture viability strategy.
And those matter because they're blue prints and foundational to build upon.
So we're not doing these things at hawk.
We're not pulling this because it's popular.
We're not pulling over here because, you know, a group got together.
It's really methodical and thoughtful.
And there's a community engagement has gone into it.
Research our experts in the area.
So I really, we go back to that 2023 active transportation.
And then we prioritize these projects.
And I love the advocacy and that's a huge piece from our community members.
You know, it's it's residents, they feel what's going on on your streets or your different pieces like that.
And all of us live in here in the community.
But we can't do it all at once.
And so I think this is a really good example of a prioritized project that's reflected in the 2023 active transportation plan.
There's reasons why great staff report that's tangible.
There's also funding for it potentially.
If we were to do everything in the community.
It's more than multiples of our budget and it just can't be done.
So it's bite-sized pieces prioritized with good rationale behind it.
I also want to say safety is the number one thing you heard it on a previous presentation for staff in this community and all of council.
We are all committed to safety.
And an example of that is the LPI that went in at that intersection.
I actually just personally talked to a mom of the child that was in an interaction at that.
And she was very had huge gratitude for staff and council that those were put in very timely.
They were already in the works because they followed the prioritized action plan.
So I just want to I just wanted to state this we can't redo pet metals tomorrow, but we can really consistently and methodically try to make improvements as we go.
And I think this is a good example of it and I do concur.
There is always collateral and consequences that come.
And one of those examples is that housing legislation with parking is going to be an issue.
And unfortunately that is something and it's a real issue.
It is a real issue for a lot of people.
But I think I just wanted to state a really kudos to staff because it's hard to stay.
Processed and in the lane when there's so many conflicting things out there.
But I just think this is a really good example.
I see BC was involved.
Engineering and to come with a real tangible example that hopefully.
We'll get full grant funding for so thank you to that and I believe that motion is on the floor.
Yeah and I will call the question all those in favor.
Thank you.
We'll now move on to bylaws and permits and this is J1 soil permit application.
This is a report to present a retroactive field permit application.
The subject site is located at 17428129th Avenue and is bounded by a BMX track to the west.
The west agricultural uses to the south and east and various agricultural residential uses to the north.
This site is generally flat with elevations around 2.8 meters.
This property is currently occupied by the pitmettles gun club.
A registered non not for profit promoting ski and trap shooting.
In February 2025, staff first became aware of fill activity on the property after receiving reports of hauling.
Staff attended the site and confirmed that the club was replacing its existing shooting paths.
The new paths were being reinforced with concrete and the surrounding areas were filled with sand and finished with top soil.
In March, the property owner provided information on the volumes and purpose of the fill.
After reviewing this against the thresholds in the city's bylaw, staff determined that the work fell within the annual exemption volume limits and a permit was not required.
In June 2025, received staff received reports of fill being hauled to the property again.
When staff investigated, it was found that the owners were bringing in and stopped piloting recycled asphalt.
This material was being used to level and great existing parking area, including a parking pad extension and constructed access road.
The volume of the additional fill exceeded the exemption thresholds, which meant a soil permit was not required.
During this review was also identified two areas that had been constructed earlier between 2022 and 2024.
That required a retroactive permiting.
This includes the parking pad extension and a bypass road located at the existing entrance that we can expect to the original access road.
The aerial figures provided that might be a little hard to see.
Sorry, provides help illustrate where those additions are located.
The purpose of the fill previously imported was to conduct a bypass road.
The separates the residential driveway from the access used by the club.
Additionally, they have expanded their existing parking area to better accommodate site operations.
Beyond that, the club imported and stockpiled asphalt grindings meant to create and fill low spots and level out sections where pot holes have developed.
This track gives an overview of the general process and steps involved in this particular application.
So, in this case, filling occurred without a soil permits.
The property owner must remove or apply for a retroactive permit in this case they applied because the site is within the ALR.
The property owner was also required to submit an application to the ALC.
In this case, they first went the NOI or the nose of intent route, which was rejected by the ALC.
But the ALC does give the applicants the option to then submit an application to the ALC.
Which is what they did.
Once the application is submitted to the ALC, then it's forwarded to the city for processing.
So then the city application runs concurrent with the ALC application and is processed before the ALC, the agricultural advisory committee, for comment before being brought to council.
And that's where we are now.
The so application is brought to council for recommendation with recommendations from the ALC.
If council does approve of this, it will be forwarded to the ALC for final approval.
If council decides not to support the application, it would not be forwarded to the ALC.
In closing, staff's recommendation is that council approve the soil application, subject to the ALC approval and acceptance of the right parent areas assessments.
Thank you so much.
I'll open up for questions and I've got councilor Manning first.
I'll just any questions first.
Councilor Meachan.
Thank you Madam Mayor and through the Mayor to manage the receipt.
Just to the point two section one.
Notification of Ministry water land resource and so on.
A repairing areas assessment as required by provincial of hearing and regulation.
Does the delegation of authority fall to city staff for that?
Through the Mayor.
So typically it would be referred to.
Staff and then they would require them to submit the applicant or the assessment to the ministry.
But we aren't able to provide or to issue any permits without that's notification to the province.
So the delegation is from staff, basically.
Yes.
Yeah.
Okay. Thank you. I have a comment as well.
Great. Councillor Hughes, did I see your head up? Was yours a question?
Good.
Go ahead.
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Through the mayor, too. I believe director Mackie.
I'm not. I'm not. I'm talking to sure.
If you could answer this question and twenty seventeen, the gun club began a water quality monitoring program
Collecting site surface water samples from up and down stream.
I'd just like to know our copies of these reports made available to the city.
Through the mayor, I'm sure they could. If we asked, I don't know that we have.
And I'm assuming that's part of their operations of the site to make sure that the activities they have aren't causing any contamination.
I know that's been a concern in the past.
So to just meet whatever obligations they have to run their site.
But in terms of does the city have the reports, not that I'm aware of.
But I don't see any reason why we couldn't ask for them.
If I may clarify my reason for the question.
The reason I ask is with the asphalt tailings.
I'm just wondering about the runoff for that in the local streams that are surrounding the property.
And by this gives us a method to check the quality of that.
Through the mayor if it's okay.
It probably wouldn't be to assess things from asphalt.
It would more so be pellets and other things that they're using on on the site.
Having said that with any soil activities they're required to have erosion in sediment control practices in place.
And that that be overseen by a qualified professional.
So with that, we wouldn't expect any runoff into the water courses.
And they're not the amount of work isn't substantial, I would say.
The other sites where we might see more extensive sediment control.
So I don't know that the reports would show that information at the same time.
They're done for a different purpose likely, but we wouldn't expect there to be significant runoff.
And if there was that would be captured by the QEP when they're doing the work.
And appropriate measures would need to be put into place.
So these reports would not be valid enough to be used within the application to the LC.
I don't know that the LC would require that and is probably for different purposes.
And when we say water quality, there's so many different things that they could be measuring for.
I don't know the extent of what that is, but but I assume there for different purposes so it might not align using one report for multiple needs.
Thank you.
I believe the rest are comments so there is a recommended motion.
It's been moved and seconded.
I will go over to Councilor Manion for comment.
Through the mayor, I will be supporting this application.
I'm sort of saddened in a way that these sort of things end up with the LC.
The LC's interests in soil deposits is to prevent fill farms from developing.
And so when you get an application like this to a longstanding member of the community,
it just it seems like a lot of unnecessary steps for someone to decide look.
They are filling in pot holes and reinforcing their parking lot.
Can we not move on?
So as again, I will be supporting this.
And again, I'm sorry that this has to go to the LC because it's a complete waste of their time.
Thanks.
Councilor Mechan.
Thank you madam.
I just covered one of the points I had, but anyway to that same point.
When this came to the AC, representatives of the gun club actually were at the AC meeting.
And when I see the words like retroactive, you know, it makes you wonder what's going on.
Sort of thing.
So I went out and visited the gun club.
I wanted to see for myself why the other driveway, what on earth was this soil all about?
And for me, again, as Councilor Manion says, I'm sorry it had to be something brought forward in such an official way,
because it's not a change of use in any way shape or form.
Basically, they're maintaining what they've already got and I've had there for 80 years.
So fully support this and strongly support this.
Because it's not just a gun club.
We received a little Billy Dew from the gun club today.
Email, it's British for email.
Billy Dew, just for everybody else.
Sorry about that.
I slipped back to Brit occasionally, but there you go.
And I went and saw the club and saw the trophies on the wall.
And you know, the names on those trophies are all the names of the streets in the city of Pignettos.
History, legacy.
And it's a great little social organization.
Did you know that the city of Pignettos used to hold a Christmas dance there?
I was there, I was there.
Don't tell us the history.
Okay. Don't tell me the history exactly.
So, you know, I just think my goodness me, why are we even talking about it?
Let's just get this done by the way.
This is a non-profit.
They're not funded by anybody else.
They fund themselves.
And they pay taxes to the city over 20,000 dollars a year.
So, yeah, let's get these guys back where they need to be.
Thank you.
Health servants.
Yeah, previously I've spoken about not enjoying retroactive because we tried to put a stop
to filling on farms.
But in this case, I mean, I don't like using the term common sense,
logical thinking, whatever it is.
This isn't a farm.
They're not tearing it out and dumping it on plants.
They're removing something they're growing.
This one.
I think that like some of these things that up with the ALC and it's just a waste of their time
they could be better served on other things.
So, I am going to be supporting it.
Absolutely.
Just sorry that I had to go this way.
I will call the question, all those in favor.
And that carries unanimously.
We'll now move on to J2, the inter municipal business license amendment.
And we welcome our Director of Planning, Patrick Ward.
Autographs after.
Thank you very much, Your Worship.
So, the purpose of this report is for counsel to consider an amendment to the
Inter municipal business license bylaw to add health care professionals and services
who provide income care as businesses eligible under the Fraser Valley
Inter municipal business license.
Currently, the city of pit metals participates with 12 other Fraser Valley
municipalities in the Inter municipal business license agreement arrangement.
This bylaw allows trade contractors and professionals related to the construction
industry to operate across the Fraser Valley jurisdictions without requiring separate
municipal business licenses.
On July 17th of 2024, council received correspondence from the BC Care providers
Association requesting that home health care businesses be included within the Fraser
Valley IMBL program.
This correspondence was forwarded to the Fraser Valley IMBL partnership for further
consideration.
And the group met recently with the BC Care providers association.
And the IMBL group has expressed support for including these businesses that provide
in home health care and related services within the Fraser Valley program.
The reduced administrative requirements would be a welcome for businesses that
already operate into or more municipalities and may encourage such businesses
to expand their service areas.
Inter municipal business license amendment bylaw number 3,032 if adopted as recommended
would add those health care professionals who provide only income care services
as eligible businesses.
It is also recommended that the IMBL agreement, which is a separate agreement
from the bylaw, among the participating municipalities be updated as well to include
those businesses.
This would be the only change to the IMBL agreement that was previously authorized by
council in 2023.
It is recommended that council authorized the execution of that updated agreement subject
to final adoption of the bylaw.
Thank you.
Great.
Thank you.
It's been moved.
Seconded any comments.
I think that's great.
Call the question.
All those in favor.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Jay three.
This again is Director Ward bylaw notice enforcement
update and I will pass it over.
Thank you very much.
So this is an update to the section references and schedule A of the bylaw as well as
amendments or proposed amendments rather to the general regulations to allow for enhanced
bylaw enforcement options.
In terms of background, the bylaw notice enforcement bylaw serves as the city's main mechanism for
issuing fines related to specific bylaw fences.
Schedule A of the bylaw identifies the designated contraventions and corresponding
penalties.
In this schedule city bylaws can level you a fine through a bylaw notice are currently listed along
with the specific infractions and the associated fine amount.
The proposed amendments to the general regulations, broadens the scope of enforcement by
allowing any bylaw contravention to be addressed through a bylaw notice.
A new general penalty provision has been established with a standard fine of $275 for any
contravention that's not currently listed in schedule A.
This amendment would allow any contravention that's not currently listed in the schedule
to be enforced through that $275,000.
Strengthening enforcement options.
A reminder that the maximum fine amount under provincial regulations is $500,000,
so $275,000 would be a far lead from that.
The proposed amendments to the schedule A are also to update section references as
listed to the recently adopted soil deposit and removal bylaw.
Currently penalties range from $300 to $500 to $500 depending on the violation.
To provide consistency and strengthen enforcement related to soil infractions,
a standard penalty of $500 is recommended for all infractions.
Except for failing to maintain monthly reports, which is proposed to remain at $300.
The bylaw also includes some minor housekeeping amendments to update section references
in schedule A for several other bylaws that were recently amended by council.
Thank you, Regent.
Great. Any questions?
It's been moved.
Seconded. I'll call the question all those in favor.
And that carries.
We'll now move on to J4.
And this is a rezoning application to permit a new day child day care at 19000 low heat
highway and again, director award.
Thank you.
Following a public hearing, this is an opportunity for council to consider a third reading
to a zoning bylaw amendment that would permit a new child care.
A center within the planned expansion at Medotown shopping center.
The applicant is requesting this tax amendment to permit a second child care use
with on the property.
And it is to be located within the expansion next to the real Canadian superstore.
First and second readings of the bylaw were granted on September 9th and a public hearing
was held on November 4th.
At the September 9th, meeting council also passed the following motion regarding the application.
Direct staff to convey to the applicant potential community interest.
In seeing non-traditional day care hours to support shift workers such as healthcare workers.
The perspective tenant has indicated willingness to explore extended hours to support shift workers.
At the same time, they have noted that in their experience take up for these extended hours can be low.
And may not support the additional resources that may be required.
They have indicated that once they are operating, they will be able to further assess local demand for the service
and they will consider the feasibility of offering extended hours.
The public hearing for this bylaw was initially scheduled on October 7th, but was postponed due to unforeseen
Canada post job action that prevented the statutory notices from being mailed out.
The public hearing was rescheduled for November 4th and the new notices were mailed out to businesses and residential addresses within
122 metres of the property.
And advertisements were also placed in the local newspaper.
No written submissions were received in advance of the public hearing and no speaker's race concerns about the application during the hearing.
Noting that there was a procedural question that was answered by our corporate officer.
Given that no concerns were raised of the public hearing and this proposal will increase the number of child care data space is available in the community.
It is recommended that the bylaw be granted third reading.
Following third reading and advance the final adoption, the bylaw would be referred to the Ministry of Transportation and transit.
For their approval as required under section 52 of the Transportation Act as the subject property is within 800 metres of the controlled access intersection.
Thank you.
I've been moved.
Seconded.
I'll call the question all those in favor.
And that carries.
Thank you so much.
Director.
We'll now move on to J5.
This one is soil deposit removal amendment by law number 3037 and this is strictly for adoption.
It's been moved and seconded.
I'll call the question all those in favor.
That carries.
Now move on to J6.
This is water works amendment by law number 3030.
This one has been moved.
Seconded.
Call the question all those in favor.
And last one move on to J7.
That sanitary sewer and drainage amendment by law.
It's been moved.
Seconded.
Call the question all those in favor.
Boom.
That's been adopted.
We will.
I will go over to miss bar short and then I'll start over on my far right.
Thank you.
If we have anybody watching online you wish to submit any comments for our last question.
Comment.
Please follow the instructions at council meeting.
I'm sorry.
Apologies.
Pitmetals.ca forward slash council meetings.
Just to reminder that any information shared during the meeting does become part of the public record.
Thank you.
Miss bar short.
We'll go to our council as on reports.
And I will go over to my far right with council.
Nothing to report.
Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to just mention the fact that we had a great turn out for a
remembrance day. And very comforting to see that the community, again, showed up strongly for
remembering our fallen heroes. It was a very moving day again, and it was great to see everybody
out and the weather held our for us. It was quite amazing. I attended the Metro Vancouver Liquid
Waste Committee, again, learning an awful lot about the big numbers that go into part of our budgets,
and as we move forward. I attended the AAC meeting another lively informative meeting. A lot of
valuable feedback, including the Gun Club issue, and discussion for Agree-related community and community issues. Thank you.
Hi, I'm next. Been a busy week. A few of us attended the smile cookie launch at Tim Horton's yesterday,
and we got to decorate cookies for sale that's on all week. It's for a good cause for
rich metals, hospital foundation, and we might get one of the cookies that we decorated. A number of us
attended the Illuminate Gala last weekend. I don't know. It's all running. It's a couple of weeks ago,
but I think we weren't here at council last week, but this was put on to create awareness of mental health
and supports needed in the community, organized by Sherry Hamm and Arianna Jasky. Such an amazing event.
It was fabulous. It was really wonderful to be there. The other thing that I wanted to mention is I visited
our little art gallery down at South Bonson Community Center, and they've launched all the Christmas items
that you can purchase, so you need to do some shopping. There's some great items there to shop local,
great video, and message in there from the mayor. And lastly, how exciting to see Christmas on Harris Road
as I was driving to council, way to go. Workshard for just creating some joy today, and they worked
hard to put up those. I think it's still probably in progress, but it really just makes all of us in
the community smile at this time of year and what's our favorite one. I like this talking. You know,
so, so great. So, please express our thanks to the team. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor O'Connell.
I've got a long report tonight to see all of that. Kidding. I attended a museum meeting last week.
They're all getting excited for the Christmas because Christmas time at the museum. It's quite an
exciting place. They show things from the past, et cetera. We're also going to be putting the sign
it up for the Japanese school that was on the advent road. So, that's a huge thing. I attended dancing
in the ridge, which is put on by the Maple Ridge Community Foundation, and they put it on every year.
It's absolutely heartwarming to go into a community that has a foundation and that recognize
it's just amazing. They fundraise for a treasure chest and what it is for people in need. Maybe
some buddy that's left their house or whatever needs help. It's amazing. Anyways, the community
services step-sisters actually won the dance competition. So, that was pretty darn exciting for them.
I attended chamber commerce meeting. We had a little bit of a discussion about empty
storefronts and stuff that there's not enough business in it. It's too bad the owners don't do something to
decorate for Christmas. And I thought immediately of the co-op building, how it's so sad that it sits on
here's road with far-buyer fencing and that it would be nice if the port would do something to put
some stuff in it. I also attended community service. I was in a very long meeting today there,
and I'm happy to announce that we now have all the wet addictions underneath our umbrella
of the organization and that's pretty darn exciting. It's going to be a good thing for the community,
et cetera. And I'm sorry I didn't attend the Illuminate event. I just didn't have anything
map to me to go out and I knew I'd be better company at home than I was going to be. I know it's someplace.
So, congratulations on the Ariana and Sherry because I know that they're just amazing ladies. Anyways,
that's it. That's great. I want to deal your quote of port would do something because
it kills her haze. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm just an update for equipment as library. A few items are
going on. The Vemper 25th pit in the library is hosting a job search series. Crack the code to career
success. Join work DC and discover effective job search strategies, career exploration,
interview preparation, resumes and cover letters, and more. A November 29th and December 6th,
holiday photos with a green screen. It's a pretty amazing selection of images that go on the back. If
you want to prep your Christmas cards or just those photos for loved ones. Also, some programs that
are going on in our library, our Lego club, after school gaming lounge, tween and team,
Dungeons and Dragons, it's extremely popular. And the Monday morning coffee club, all these and more can be
found at our pitmettles library. Just check it out. Just a quick reminder, the first Friday of December
is Christmas and pitmettles happening in spirit square and in our pitmettles reccent or recreation
set or so. And that's it. Thank you. Great. Count Stravins. Yeah, last week I also attended the AEC,
I gave a cultural advisory committee. I was just struck. I know we talk about how lively it is,
but how important it is that these people give time to come and educate us. Me, I don't actually know
that much about film permits. So to get there in sight and the understanding of just like logical
when we're talking about a farm that's ripping stuff out and paving it versus trying to get access
to your barn and these things. It's just valuable insight. I appreciate it. Always a good meeting. Also,
we are terrible at making smiles on cookies. It was genuinely shocking how our cookies turned out,
but I'm glad that we went. It was a good time at Furgut cause. And I saw an overwhelming response
social media tonight. My whole feed was the lights along Harris. So they were exciting Christmas
coming and just a reminder that budget is coming for the public. Turn up, listen, be a part,
give your feedback because difficult decisions are ahead. Awesome. Just a couple notes is it is
salvation army. Kettle season has begun and they are seeking bell ringers. So if you or your
organization, your sports club, anybody, please reach out to the Salvation Army to support local,
and as Councillor Evans says, 530. So we sometimes have people roll in at 7, but budget,
planning and presentation start Monday and Tuesday at 530 and all are welcome. So with that,
we'll adjourn tonight's meeting. Thank you.