1 00:00:00,654 --> 00:00:02,674 [laughter] 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,400 When I was talking to Marty last night, I was like, "Okay, there's a couple of 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:14,000 them that I didn't recognize." He's like, "That the one in the third with a 4 00:00:12,639 --> 00:00:20,119 mustache. The one in the four seat with a mustache. The [laughter] 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:20,119 one in the second row with a mustache 6 00:00:25,119 --> 00:00:29,880 is >> Yeah. 7 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,960 That's pretty nice. 8 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:57,000 So ready 9 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:23,479 like to call our August 20th, 2026 6 chamber council 10 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,479 meeting to order. 11 00:01:25,439 --> 00:01:30,040 Start with the adoption of the agenda. 12 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:42,479 Any discussion? All in favor? 13 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:46,640 Thank you. Motion to close the meeting to the public. 14 00:01:45,119 --> 00:01:50,079 Okay. Move that council move into a closed 15 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:53,759 meeting to discuss matters covered by the community charter under sections 16 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:57,439 91A. Personal information about an 17 00:01:55,040 --> 00:02:00,799 identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an 18 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:05,280 officer employee or agent of the municipality or another position 19 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:09,200 appointed by the municipality. C labor relations or other employee relations. 20 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:13,680 And F the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor client privilege 21 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,840 including communication necessary for that purpose. 22 00:02:18,959 --> 00:02:26,680 for Almeida. Any discussion? All in favor? We are adjourned. 23 01:30:13,440 --> 01:30:21,360 Okay, we're going to reconvene our council meeting. We'll start with the 24 01:30:18,560 --> 01:30:26,400 territorial acknowledgement that we're holding this in the traditional lands of 25 01:30:23,520 --> 01:30:33,760 the Colama nation and we'll move to public input period. 26 01:30:29,040 --> 01:30:38,320 So, subject to the rules of conduct, members of the audience, up to three 27 01:30:36,239 --> 01:30:44,480 members have an opportunity to provide comment for a maximum of two minutes on 28 01:30:42,000 --> 01:30:50,480 one of these three items. Legislative matters, committee 29 01:30:46,480 --> 01:30:55,679 recommendations, or new business. Anybody wish to come forward from the 30 01:30:53,199 --> 01:31:01,280 audience? Introduce yourself, please. 31 01:30:58,560 --> 01:31:05,199 Good evening uh mayor and council. Thank you very much. Uh my name is Diane 32 01:31:02,880 --> 01:31:10,719 Sparks. I will be speaking with regard to the letter from the mayor of Gibson 33 01:31:07,360 --> 01:31:16,080 to Randine Neil. The mayor of Gibson and Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee 34 01:31:13,280 --> 01:31:23,040 recently made an important point in a letter to Rand Neil. Ferry service has 35 01:31:19,280 --> 01:31:29,760 not kept pace with growth. Power River to Vancouver's route, contractually 36 01:31:25,120 --> 01:31:35,760 minimal, has changed little since 2003. While the Southern Sunshine Coast 37 01:31:31,520 --> 01:31:44,880 population has grown approximately 29%, visitor spending has risen from 76 77.6 38 01:31:40,320 --> 01:31:51,679 million in 2007 to 256 million in 2024. That's about 230%. 39 01:31:49,360 --> 01:31:56,639 Tourism is vital to our economy, but residents should not be unable to get 40 01:31:54,800 --> 01:32:03,120 home or reach essential appointments because their only transportation route 41 01:31:59,199 --> 01:32:08,400 is full. For Pal River, the ferry is our highway. At our town at our town hall 42 01:32:06,800 --> 01:32:13,120 meeting, residents raised serious concerns about motorcycle access, having 43 01:32:11,280 --> 01:32:17,920 to purchase reservations to ensure travel for medical appointments, 44 01:32:15,840 --> 01:32:23,440 the additional cost of reservations, residents commuting to jobs on Vancouver 45 01:32:20,320 --> 01:32:28,960 Island unable to get home, and local businesses losing customers because of 46 01:32:25,520 --> 01:32:34,719 ferry standby changes. The province is now preparing for performance term 7 47 01:32:32,159 --> 01:32:40,400 beginning April 1st, 2028. If ferry service levels are going to be released, 48 01:32:37,440 --> 01:32:46,719 re reassessed to reflect today's population and demand, then Pal River 49 01:32:43,199 --> 01:32:52,080 must be part of that con conversation. And the public has spoken more than 50 01:32:49,440 --> 01:32:56,000 6,000. We have more than 6,000 people that have signed our petition now 51 01:32:53,920 --> 01:33:01,520 calling for priority boarding for Pow River residents. 52 01:32:57,920 --> 01:33:06,800 Population has grown, tourism has grown, demand has grown, ferry policy must 53 01:33:05,120 --> 01:33:10,360 catch up. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. 54 01:33:10,639 --> 01:33:18,280 Anybody else from the audience? Do we have anybody online? 55 01:33:18,639 --> 01:33:21,440 All right. 56 01:33:22,159 --> 01:33:32,560 We're going to move now to general matters and uh I am pleased that uh 57 01:33:27,840 --> 01:33:37,360 Mayor Dan Law of the District of Fenino is here this evening. Now, just by way 58 01:33:35,520 --> 01:33:44,000 of background, uh for the last couple of years, 59 01:33:40,159 --> 01:33:51,120 uh we here in Pow River at our council have had discussions about housing and 60 01:33:47,280 --> 01:33:57,840 the lack of it and uh pickle ball and the importance of pickle ball for social 61 01:33:54,000 --> 01:34:03,120 development and economic development. And 62 01:33:59,920 --> 01:34:09,600 having attended uh the ICE meetings a number of times, 63 01:34:05,360 --> 01:34:16,239 I was advised that uh Tofino has done some very interesting initiatives 64 01:34:12,800 --> 01:34:25,760 to deal with housing and the lack thereof of housing and also have shown 65 01:34:22,159 --> 01:34:32,719 good decision making in providing uh pickle ball players both those living in 66 01:34:28,719 --> 01:34:39,520 Tofino and those that care to come to Tofino as tourists and have seen a very 67 01:34:36,400 --> 01:34:47,080 positive response to what they've done. I'd like to welcome uh Mayor Law and 68 01:34:43,199 --> 01:34:47,080 look forward to your comments. 69 01:34:49,360 --> 01:34:55,920 Thank you. Your worship I don't get to call other mayors your 70 01:34:54,400 --> 01:35:01,040 worship very often, so I thought I'd do it. uh officially as an address. Um 71 01:34:59,440 --> 01:35:05,120 thanks for inviting me uh mayor and council. It's great to be here and uh 72 01:35:02,880 --> 01:35:09,920 it's great to meet staff and a couple of the residents of Pow River. Pow River is 73 01:35:07,679 --> 01:35:16,000 stunningly beautiful. I have to say everybody I'm from Tofino. Most people 74 01:35:12,639 --> 01:35:23,040 know Tofino. Uh if you don't know Tofino, you head to Uklit and when you 75 01:35:18,320 --> 01:35:28,560 hit the junction you turn right. So uh but um it's great to be in uh in Palo 76 01:35:25,840 --> 01:35:34,560 what a stunning place and it's great to be here to share uh the Tofino Housing 77 01:35:30,560 --> 01:35:41,360 Corporation uh process and Tofino Housing Corporation success. It's been a 78 01:35:37,120 --> 01:35:47,600 very very good success so far. It is um 79 01:35:44,560 --> 01:35:54,560 the Defino Housing Corporation I'm gonna get ahead here has had a long run. Uh it 80 01:35:52,159 --> 01:36:00,960 was first uh envisioned in the early 2000s 2005 it was established 81 01:35:58,639 --> 01:36:04,560 uh but then over the next seven or so years 82 01:36:02,480 --> 01:36:09,679 uh just couldn't it couldn't get any forward momentum. Uh council couldn't 83 01:36:07,280 --> 01:36:16,560 make a decision. There was significant kickback from the uh town at the time. 84 01:36:13,520 --> 01:36:22,880 Everything from uh you know businesses should build their own uh accommodation 85 01:36:19,920 --> 01:36:27,360 for employees. Uh people should work hard for their own housing. Uh and just 86 01:36:25,440 --> 01:36:34,000 a general distaste for for any kind of government 87 01:36:30,159 --> 01:36:39,440 intervention in housing. And the idea presented consistently was that the 88 01:36:35,920 --> 01:36:45,360 market would solve the problem. In 2005, the uh 89 01:36:43,760 --> 01:36:50,000 there was a negative vacancy rate in Tofino. People were living in campers 90 01:36:46,960 --> 01:36:56,000 and trailers and garages and tents and sleeping bags outside. 91 01:36:53,119 --> 01:37:00,119 And the median value home price in Tofina was about $375,000. 92 01:37:00,880 --> 01:37:10,159 2012 uh it was uh the the housing corporation 93 01:37:07,600 --> 01:37:17,360 uh was dissolved. 2015 2016 94 01:37:13,199 --> 01:37:22,960 it was uh readily apparent that the market developers were not solving the 95 01:37:21,119 --> 01:37:28,239 problem at all. There was an increased vacancy or a negative vacancy rate 96 01:37:25,760 --> 01:37:31,760 significant number of people living uh on the streets in their vans and 97 01:37:30,000 --> 01:37:37,040 campers. These are employees, people working at shops. And uh and so the 98 01:37:34,800 --> 01:37:41,119 council decided that they had to act. And so the Tofino Housing Corporation 99 01:37:38,719 --> 01:37:48,239 was started up again uh with the intent of building housing 100 01:37:43,520 --> 01:37:53,360 for anybody who called Tofino home. By this time, the median value house 101 01:37:51,199 --> 01:38:00,920 price uh was about the same as it is here. was 102 01:37:57,040 --> 01:38:00,920 about uh $576,000 103 01:38:01,440 --> 01:38:07,760 uh dollars per median value single detached home. And I believe that Pal 104 01:38:05,600 --> 01:38:11,520 River right now has uh single detached homes. The median value is about 580. 105 01:38:09,360 --> 01:38:16,520 And I'll show that later in a slide. Uh but it's an important point that we'll 106 01:38:12,880 --> 01:38:16,520 come back to talk about. 107 01:38:16,800 --> 01:38:24,800 And so 2017 started up again. And in the in the last uh nine years, 108 01:38:22,719 --> 01:38:30,639 uh Tofino has had some great success. what I'm going to share in a sec here. 109 01:38:28,000 --> 01:38:35,679 But what is it? So the Tofino Housing Corporation is a corporation 110 01:38:33,679 --> 01:38:40,000 owned 100% [clears throat] by the District of Tofino. 111 01:38:38,400 --> 01:38:44,960 So uh up here you can see the District of Tofino provides uh free land. That's 112 01:38:42,560 --> 01:38:50,159 a sticking point for people people dcc waiverss and uh some staff support when 113 01:38:47,199 --> 01:38:56,560 needed. Uh but the land really is just transferred to a Tofino housing tenino 114 01:38:53,440 --> 01:39:03,840 corporation. So the Tofino retains 100% of of the land and the Tofino acts as a 115 01:39:00,639 --> 01:39:10,080 land steward, secures funding, manages the partnerships, navigates all of the 116 01:39:06,639 --> 01:39:14,159 ins and outs of housing development that uh that district staff just do not want 117 01:39:12,000 --> 01:39:18,880 to do, nor should they do. Uh they're they're not uh you know, district staff 118 01:39:16,480 --> 01:39:23,760 are not professional developers. uh but uh the THC hires an executive director 119 01:39:21,760 --> 01:39:29,840 who is a professional developer and that's their job and then the uh THC has 120 01:39:26,880 --> 01:39:33,679 partnered in this case with uh in the past uh several projects with Catalyst 121 01:39:32,400 --> 01:39:39,760 Community Development Society which is also a nonprofit developer and uh build 122 01:39:37,840 --> 01:39:46,000 market housing or below market housing sorry non-market housing 123 01:39:42,880 --> 01:39:52,480 and um they generally come in 15 to 28% below what a market developer uh can 124 01:39:50,080 --> 01:39:57,679 build and uh and the Tofino Housing Corporation and the the district of 125 01:39:54,560 --> 01:40:06,239 Tofino gets to decide what kind of housing, how it looks, the uh the makeup 126 01:40:01,280 --> 01:40:12,400 of the rooms and where it goes. The uh the first project that we did 127 01:40:09,840 --> 01:40:18,719 was uh a town home and here it is right here and it's 14 rental units, one, two, 128 01:40:15,199 --> 01:40:24,880 and threebedroom units. uh the the land was readily available owned by the 129 01:40:20,560 --> 01:40:30,800 district uh it was easily developed and uh and 100% funded by by the 130 01:40:28,560 --> 01:40:35,119 government whether through BC housing CHC 131 01:40:32,400 --> 01:40:39,440 and uh and our own MRDT [clears throat] which uh is municipal regional district 132 01:40:37,040 --> 01:40:46,400 tax which I know council is aware of and uh we're able to to use 100% of the tax 133 01:40:43,520 --> 01:40:51,040 the hotel tax uh that short-term rentals bring 134 01:40:47,520 --> 01:40:57,520 that all goes to to uh help operate and run both the operational and capital end 135 01:40:54,639 --> 01:41:03,920 of our Tofino housing corporation. This development here, you know, 136 01:40:59,760 --> 01:41:06,920 Tofino's 2500 people at this time. Um, 137 01:41:08,080 --> 01:41:16,639 housing is in such a crisis that 138 01:41:14,159 --> 01:41:21,199 without action by council, it's conceivable that our hospital wouldn't 139 01:41:18,880 --> 01:41:26,719 be able to run, our schools wouldn't be able to run, our district itself uh 140 01:41:24,320 --> 01:41:32,560 wouldn't be able to run without some kind of action because we are so uh so 141 01:41:29,920 --> 01:41:37,040 low on housing. In fact, uh a young doctor and his family were able to get 142 01:41:34,159 --> 01:41:41,119 into this particular project uh several years ago. He was able to 143 01:41:38,800 --> 01:41:45,520 finish his res residency and was able will be able to come back 144 01:41:43,600 --> 01:41:51,840 to Tofino uh and work as a physician. In fact, uh 145 01:41:49,199 --> 01:41:58,719 this particular unit allowed uh this doctor and his family, his wife to uh to 146 01:41:56,000 --> 01:42:01,920 transition into buying a home in Tofino. It might not seem like a big uh deal in 147 01:42:00,560 --> 01:42:07,040 Powell River where there's, you know, 15,000 people, but in a 2500 148 01:42:04,800 --> 01:42:12,320 uh population town, uh it is a significant deal. 149 01:42:09,840 --> 01:42:16,320 After that, we're able to move on to larger projects to apartment buildings. 150 01:42:14,239 --> 01:42:19,520 You can see here, this was much more contentious with 151 01:42:17,760 --> 01:42:24,400 town, I got to say, because that is a first growth forest and and uh it was a 152 01:42:22,480 --> 01:42:30,000 hard cell for some people. But the housing crisis was so great that people 153 01:42:27,040 --> 01:42:34,400 in the end were were able to to uh to see this through. And between the two 154 01:42:32,719 --> 01:42:39,280 projects, these two apartment buildings here and the the previous one, Creek 155 01:42:36,320 --> 01:42:44,920 Side, it's called, Tofino is now housing approximately uh 9 to 10% of our 156 01:42:41,920 --> 01:42:44,920 population. 157 01:42:45,280 --> 01:42:52,639 And you can see that uh affordable housing because these come with BC 158 01:42:48,960 --> 01:42:56,159 housing, CHC uh they have to be affordable at least a part of them has 159 01:42:54,239 --> 01:43:01,600 to be affordable and there's usually a percentage. So 30 50/20 is is one you 160 01:42:58,560 --> 01:43:06,880 often see 30% affordable market 50% rented to income and then 20% are deep 161 01:43:04,719 --> 01:43:12,320 subsidies. And uh 162 01:43:10,000 --> 01:43:17,440 you know just with these three projects alone 163 01:43:14,159 --> 01:43:22,800 uh the district was able to take unused land 164 01:43:19,280 --> 01:43:27,360 was able to convert it build bring in substantial 165 01:43:24,880 --> 01:43:32,320 uh funding for both capital and operational 166 01:43:29,040 --> 01:43:37,199 and uh in the end uh we were able to increase our our 167 01:43:34,560 --> 01:43:42,480 property assets by well over $12 million. And in fact, these properties 168 01:43:40,159 --> 01:43:46,880 now pay tax. They pay property tax and they're bringing in over $50,000 169 01:43:44,159 --> 01:43:53,280 annually. Uh so it is it's just been a tremendous win. And because we have the 170 01:43:50,320 --> 01:43:59,679 the corporation set up and it's running very smoothly. Uh 171 01:43:56,320 --> 01:44:03,440 we were able to uh to move swiftly in this particular project here. It wasn't 172 01:44:01,679 --> 01:44:10,639 called project, I guess. uh it's an acquisition is that we have a a 4unit uh 173 01:44:07,840 --> 01:44:15,920 senior's housing villa that's been operating for probably 40 40 years or 174 01:44:13,199 --> 01:44:19,920 more. And uh you know I ran into this fellow actually he's he's sitting there 175 01:44:17,280 --> 01:44:24,560 at the doorway in that picture uh on the street and he was quite distressed and 176 01:44:21,600 --> 01:44:30,880 uh it turns out that this uh this villa had been perhaps poorly managed and it 177 01:44:27,520 --> 01:44:34,960 was on the brink of insolveny uh and would have to be sold. So, 178 01:44:33,440 --> 01:44:40,000 because I had this housing corporation going, a great relationship with uh the 179 01:44:37,360 --> 01:44:46,800 executive director, uh I just simply gave him a call and uh he called Dave 180 01:44:44,239 --> 01:44:51,040 and within a few months, the housing corporation was able to buy this for a 181 01:44:49,440 --> 01:44:56,560 dollar, uh reortgage it with BC Housing, bring 182 01:44:54,159 --> 01:45:01,280 all of the the rents into the safer program, reducing rents for the tenants, 183 01:44:59,520 --> 01:45:08,800 uh fix all the problems, bring it up to snuff, and the district uh now has that 184 01:45:05,199 --> 01:45:13,679 asset and uh in the next decade or two we'll be able to build more stories of 185 01:45:11,119 --> 01:45:19,600 senior housing in in Tofino. So it's kind of a spin-off of of housing 186 01:45:15,600 --> 01:45:24,080 corporation. Um if you have a corporation 187 01:45:21,760 --> 01:45:28,560 uh it not only allows you to do this without having to get council and staff 188 01:45:26,480 --> 01:45:33,760 uh too involved. It uh it allows 189 01:45:30,880 --> 01:45:39,600 a significant amount of leverage for government grants 190 01:45:35,840 --> 01:45:43,199 and uh and that governments like to work with 191 01:45:41,520 --> 01:45:47,040 councils who have corporations. Uh they like to 192 01:45:45,360 --> 01:45:50,953 work because they like to work nimly and fast. You wouldn't believe that. I know 193 01:45:49,199 --> 01:45:53,199 you're all politicians and everybody [laughter] 194 01:45:51,760 --> 01:45:57,280 ever work with politicians. You wouldn't believe they like to work fast, but they 195 01:45:54,400 --> 01:46:01,119 do. uh they want to work with uh with organizations that know how to build and 196 01:45:58,800 --> 01:46:06,560 have proven that they know how to build. They want to work with uh people and 197 01:46:04,080 --> 01:46:09,920 organizations that are going to give them a return on 198 01:46:08,800 --> 01:46:14,119 their investment. And that's what the Tofino Housing Corporation does. 199 01:46:14,560 --> 01:46:24,080 Right now, we're targeting uh 150 total rental units, 30 price restricted, 200 01:46:19,840 --> 01:46:27,440 resident restricted units by 2030. We've got two projects on the go. We do not 201 01:46:25,920 --> 01:46:33,280 have a lot of land, unfortunately, like Pal River. Uh we had to scrimp and and 202 01:46:30,639 --> 01:46:40,480 scrge and find a few parcels of land and and identified three. Uh one we actually 203 01:46:37,760 --> 01:46:45,119 bought uh with the growing communities fund to save our infrastructure and uh 204 01:46:42,960 --> 01:46:48,960 and then we we said now that we bought that to save our infrastructure access, 205 01:46:46,880 --> 01:46:54,480 why don't we turn it into affordable housing, too? And so we have uh an Apex 206 01:46:51,520 --> 01:47:02,480 on the go which is uh shovel ready and we've got another 21 unit below market 207 01:46:57,679 --> 01:47:08,480 housing uh that includes a seaside park permanent uh infrastructure access for 208 01:47:04,320 --> 01:47:13,119 our water and uh and three-bedroom uh units for for families which we just do 209 01:47:10,800 --> 01:47:19,520 not have in Tofino and it's uh it's caused a bit of crisis itself. 210 01:47:16,719 --> 01:47:24,080 And there's future capacity. And one of the things that we've done 211 01:47:20,719 --> 01:47:28,560 with the Tina Housing Corporation is uh because it's been a success and we know 212 01:47:25,760 --> 01:47:32,800 that it's taken a long time to get here and so we've made it part of our mission 213 01:47:31,119 --> 01:47:38,159 and vision and mission with the Tina Housing Corporation to try to share it 214 01:47:35,119 --> 01:47:42,800 with other communities uh that may be where we were several years ago and 215 01:47:40,320 --> 01:47:47,040 they're trying to solve problems. And uh the thing about municipal governments is 216 01:47:45,199 --> 01:47:50,719 everybody's kind of siloed. You know, nobody knows necessarily what everybody 217 01:47:48,560 --> 01:47:54,800 else is doing. And so I wanted to fix that and and share the success uh with 218 01:47:53,360 --> 01:48:00,880 other communities so that you don't have to go through all of the ups and downs 219 01:47:57,520 --> 01:48:05,239 and and uh and questions and uh get right to the point and build some 220 01:48:02,239 --> 01:48:05,239 housing. 221 01:48:06,880 --> 01:48:11,040 That's the end of that uh that's the end of that presentation. I do have another 222 01:48:09,600 --> 01:48:17,040 slide, but I think I'm running over. So, why don't I just uh stop there and uh 223 01:48:14,159 --> 01:48:22,440 and go for some uh Oh, I should tell you one thing. I forgot actually. Let's go 224 01:48:19,280 --> 01:48:22,440 back here. 225 01:48:23,600 --> 01:48:32,639 2022. Here you go. Remember how I said uh 226 01:48:29,520 --> 01:48:36,880 2017 the median value 227 01:48:34,719 --> 01:48:42,239 of a single detached home was about the same as it is now in Pal River. 2017 is 228 01:48:39,760 --> 01:48:46,560 not a long time ago. Uh the single detached 229 01:48:44,000 --> 01:48:50,960 home value in Tofino right now average is about 1.5 million. 230 01:48:49,280 --> 01:48:55,520 Yeah. If we didn't have this, 231 01:48:53,440 --> 01:49:00,080 if people hadn't, if council hadn't decided to do this and taken the step to 232 01:48:57,360 --> 01:49:05,360 do this when they did, Tofina would not be running now like it is. It would not 233 01:49:03,119 --> 01:49:10,639 be able to function uh the same as it is. Business would be struggling. uh 234 01:49:07,760 --> 01:49:14,000 there'd be tremendous pressure and so uh thank goodness uh council had the 235 01:49:12,320 --> 01:49:18,560 foresight and the courage to take this action uh when they did and we get to 236 01:49:16,159 --> 01:49:25,639 benefit it uh from it today. I'm not suggesting power river prices are going 237 01:49:20,320 --> 01:49:25,639 to go up to 1.5 happened to us. 238 01:49:27,520 --> 01:49:32,639 » Open for questions if anybody has. Uh, councelor Isaac, 239 01:49:31,440 --> 01:49:36,080 » thank you. You need to stop telling people how beautiful we are here because 240 01:49:34,320 --> 01:49:41,440 we would like to keep things a bit more affordable for local folks. Um, so I I 241 01:49:40,159 --> 01:49:46,320 always like that saying, you know, the best time to build housing was 20 years 242 01:49:42,880 --> 01:49:52,080 ago and the second best time is now. you the housing corporation first got set up 243 01:49:48,159 --> 01:49:57,920 in 2005 and your first uh completed project was 2022 right so it took a 244 01:49:55,520 --> 01:50:02,159 while and I I think about some of the pressures that we might feel related to 245 01:49:59,600 --> 01:50:06,960 startup costs like hiring you know you had um a professional developer all the 246 01:50:05,280 --> 01:50:12,400 pre-development costs that often aren't funded by all these grant streams you 247 01:50:08,960 --> 01:50:17,679 got 650k in MRTD funding the amount here is in the 100,000 level and so the scale 248 01:50:15,760 --> 01:50:23,679 of what we have available to us is a little bit different. I'm wondering um 249 01:50:21,119 --> 01:50:27,280 uh what um if you have advice on like the 250 01:50:25,760 --> 01:50:30,560 financial feasibility because this is something that this council has over 251 01:50:28,880 --> 01:50:34,400 many years we've had many meetings and gone to many sessions and are are pretty 252 01:50:32,480 --> 01:50:38,639 keen on it. Um but sometimes like the math looks really hard but without that 253 01:50:36,719 --> 01:50:42,880 investment it will just get harder and so any advice given the the difference 254 01:50:41,199 --> 01:50:45,440 in scale that we're we're dealing with here? 255 01:50:44,000 --> 01:50:49,280 » Yeah, I mean that's good. That's a really good point. Uh the startup costs, 256 01:50:47,280 --> 01:50:54,639 what does it cost to run it? It needs money to run. Uh you know, we we're 257 01:50:51,679 --> 01:50:58,639 getting $650,000 from OAP, which is online accommodation platform, MRDT, 258 01:50:56,800 --> 01:51:02,960 every year. That's not what it was uh back then. I think when we started out, 259 01:51:00,560 --> 01:51:07,920 it was in the maybe the hundreds. and it dropped down uh during COVID uh to to 260 01:51:05,840 --> 01:51:11,440 significantly lower about if I'm just off the top of my head it was maybe 261 01:51:09,280 --> 01:51:17,920 like80,000 there uh until it got uh reconciled at 262 01:51:14,480 --> 01:51:23,040 the end of the year but the um the actual operational cost to run it just 263 01:51:21,280 --> 01:51:29,679 for administration uh is not that great. I mean, we have 264 01:51:25,920 --> 01:51:35,119 one part-time employee, and that's uh you know, that's under $50,000 a year, 265 01:51:32,320 --> 01:51:40,000 and we we have a contract with City Spaces, uh Ian Scott, who was our 266 01:51:38,000 --> 01:51:46,560 originally ED exceptional person. And so, we bring him on for contracts, and 267 01:51:42,000 --> 01:51:50,800 he'll take on a project like, um, oh, sorry, this is the next uh gosh, that's 268 01:51:48,880 --> 01:51:57,440 the next one. Like this one. So he he did that one and rolled the rolled that 269 01:51:53,440 --> 01:52:04,239 project cost into into the total performer and a lot of that was actually 270 01:52:00,560 --> 01:52:07,440 covered by funding from the from the government anyway. So there's 271 01:52:05,520 --> 01:52:13,840 significant home funding and there's significant uh startup funding 272 01:52:11,760 --> 01:52:18,639 for councils and and communities that mean business, right? And so, you know, 273 01:52:17,360 --> 01:52:21,280 I looked at Pal River and I actually have another I did another slide, but 274 01:52:20,159 --> 01:52:26,719 I'm probably going to go over, so I'll probably skip it. But, uh, you know, Pal 275 01:52:23,599 --> 01:52:32,880 River doesn't have the same MRDT. It's not an RMI community. I'm not sure what 276 01:52:28,800 --> 01:52:39,199 you get for for, uh, MRDT, but 277 01:52:35,840 --> 01:52:43,679 Tofino is a tourism community. That's how we make a lot of our money. Uh, 278 01:52:41,360 --> 01:52:46,880 Powell River has a community forest, I believe, and it's a a society that makes 279 01:52:45,360 --> 01:52:51,119 a significant amount of money, usually in the millions, I think. And so, if you 280 01:52:49,360 --> 01:52:59,199 were to compare, you could say, well, Powell River has its own nonpropy tax 281 01:52:55,920 --> 01:53:03,520 uh, revenue that can go to whatever council decides and the community 282 01:53:00,960 --> 01:53:07,920 decides they want it to. And so if you have funds and if housing is a priority 283 01:53:06,239 --> 01:53:12,320 and you think it's a you know it's a crisis for for you for whatever reason 284 01:53:10,320 --> 01:53:18,800 then you do have funds and it's uh once you get rolling uh you know staff aren't 285 01:53:15,199 --> 01:53:23,199 involved except on the board council you know the Tofino Housing Corporation 286 01:53:21,040 --> 01:53:29,280 comes to council and and asks for say a zoning change or a wave of 50% DCC's or 287 01:53:27,280 --> 01:53:33,920 something like that. Uh, and so that's really how council council and staff 288 01:53:31,360 --> 01:53:40,520 work it. Uh, the corporation just just takes care of itself. So that's uh 289 01:53:36,639 --> 01:53:40,520 that's what I'd say about that. 290 01:53:44,320 --> 01:53:49,760 » I'm actually I'm curious chair if there is consent to just take a peek at some 291 01:53:47,840 --> 01:53:54,639 of this the subsequent slides. I know we are over time but um curious if council 292 01:53:52,560 --> 01:54:01,520 would be willing to do that. >> Senses. Yes. 293 01:53:57,840 --> 01:54:03,840 giving me more time. Okay. >> Came so far. 294 01:54:02,400 --> 01:54:07,599 » Well, nobody's throwing at me anything at me from the the stand. So So I did 295 01:54:06,000 --> 01:54:11,520 actually look at I I did read your reports and I had a look at Campbell or 296 01:54:09,520 --> 01:54:14,320 or Powell River and I know there are some significant differences and I 297 01:54:12,880 --> 01:54:18,080 thought that council probably would say, "Well, we're not the same. We're very 298 01:54:16,320 --> 01:54:22,719 different." And uh so I put together this case. It's not a report from staff. 299 01:54:20,800 --> 01:54:26,719 So you know, take it for what it is. It's a visiting mayor with uh you know 300 01:54:25,199 --> 01:54:31,199 who's been to Pal River a couple times and knows how to look on the internet. 301 01:54:29,360 --> 01:54:34,800 Uh so it's still you know protecting economy viability unlocking housing 302 01:54:33,040 --> 01:54:39,920 supply and leveraging municipal equity. That's what you're doing. That's what we 303 01:54:36,159 --> 01:54:43,679 did. Uh Pal River is very different than Tofino. You have excellent healthcare. 304 01:54:41,840 --> 01:54:50,719 You've got recre recreation infrastructure. We do not we uh we don't 305 01:54:47,360 --> 01:54:57,360 have a pool. We don't have an indoor uh recreation center at all. We don't even 306 01:54:52,880 --> 01:55:01,520 own a public ball field. You've got excellent resources for your 307 01:54:59,040 --> 01:55:05,520 kids and teens. Uh 308 01:55:03,040 --> 01:55:09,119 tier one civic infrastructure. You've got great education, early childhood, 309 01:55:07,199 --> 01:55:14,080 public independent schools, postsecary and trades engines. You're fantastic. 310 01:55:11,599 --> 01:55:17,520 So, uh I shouldn't say that. I heard that you don't want people to come here. 311 01:55:16,879 --> 01:55:22,480 » [laughter] >> You want people to move here 312 01:55:19,599 --> 01:55:24,320 » only up until 14,999 people live. 313 01:55:23,119 --> 01:55:27,840 » That's right. That's right. You have to pay extra RCMP. I got it. Uh well, you 314 01:55:26,960 --> 01:55:31,920 know what? You We're talking about housing. So, I did a little housing 315 01:55:29,199 --> 01:55:35,840 breakdown. Here's your median value. Single detached home. 580,000. Seems 316 01:55:34,080 --> 01:55:41,760 like a lot. Uh unless you're from Tofino, then I think, oh my gosh, I'd 317 01:55:38,560 --> 01:55:46,800 buy two if I had the money. Uh and then the tax, you know, tax always comes back 318 01:55:43,760 --> 01:55:51,040 comes up. It's almost uh it's almost election time. Everybody likes to talk 319 01:55:48,159 --> 01:55:54,639 about taxes. And so, not only are houses uh you know, they're actually higher, 320 01:55:52,639 --> 01:55:58,960 the price to income ratio is higher than uh the global uh suggested limit for 321 01:55:57,840 --> 01:56:03,440 affordability. So, they're not affordable, but your taxes actually are 322 01:56:01,199 --> 01:56:08,080 really quite affordable. Uh and you can see here uh I've got some numbers up 323 01:56:05,360 --> 01:56:12,960 there uh for regional passroughs. municipal tax share is about $264 a 324 01:56:11,440 --> 01:56:17,199 month, which is less 325 01:56:14,960 --> 01:56:23,599 than a cell phone, home speed, highspeed home internet, and 326 01:56:19,920 --> 01:56:28,800 streaming subscriptions. And across Canada, it's actually very low. 327 01:56:26,880 --> 01:56:31,360 And I actually upped these a little bit. So, uh, I thought this would be 328 01:56:30,080 --> 01:56:37,199 interesting stuff. I'd like to see this, too. But, uh, if you actually I actually 329 01:56:34,239 --> 01:56:41,119 was a little conservative. the actual uh monthly 330 01:56:38,800 --> 01:56:47,280 cost of property tax on a median value home is lower than this uh if you take 331 01:56:42,960 --> 01:56:51,280 into consideration the uh over 65 homeowner grant. 332 01:56:49,920 --> 01:56:55,760 So what does it do? It means you got a great town, you got some housing. Do you 333 01:56:53,520 --> 01:57:00,880 have any problems that you need to solve with the housing corporation? Yeah, you 334 01:56:58,239 --> 01:57:05,360 sure do. I think uh you got some problems. It is still unaffordable. It 335 01:57:02,960 --> 01:57:11,360 appears that uh three-bedroom family rental stock is virtually non-existent. 336 01:57:08,320 --> 01:57:16,800 Now, you guys know more than I do. Uh and uh it also appears that uh it's 337 01:57:14,880 --> 01:57:21,599 impacting perhaps essential services like hospitals and people coming into to 338 01:57:19,280 --> 01:57:26,159 Powell River who you need to run Powell River and deliver all of those health 339 01:57:23,440 --> 01:57:31,360 care, education, recreation services. And so you do have a deficit and the 340 01:57:28,719 --> 01:57:36,239 reality is that uh the market uh isn't delivering and 341 01:57:34,480 --> 01:57:39,440 probably won't. That's what Tofino happened at Tofino. We thought it would 342 01:57:37,520 --> 01:57:42,880 and it just didn't because the market wants to build one-bedroom studio 343 01:57:41,040 --> 01:57:47,000 suites. They want to get the numbers and they want to maximize their ROI. 344 01:57:47,760 --> 01:57:54,880 Plus, you got a demographics queue. You got a lot of people here. Tofino has a 345 01:57:51,760 --> 01:58:01,840 huge number. We have double the average of young people than BC. Double. Uh we 346 01:57:59,360 --> 01:58:05,119 don't have families and teens and their parents because they have nowhere to 347 01:58:03,119 --> 01:58:11,040 live and we don't have a lot of those services that they want. Uh Bow River 348 01:58:07,840 --> 01:58:17,679 has a very large demographic of seniors and it appears uh who are in older 349 01:58:14,639 --> 01:58:22,719 multi-level single detach homes but it doesn't appear they have much where to 350 01:58:19,199 --> 01:58:27,840 go and so they're stuck. This is my hunch from from doing a quick do is uh 351 01:58:25,520 --> 01:58:33,440 so you really need uh someplace for seniors to go so that they can stay in 352 01:58:30,159 --> 01:58:39,679 Pal River uh so that this can be a you know birth to end of life town where 353 01:58:36,480 --> 01:58:43,920 they can invest their whole lives and uh and you also need somewhere for 354 01:58:42,239 --> 01:58:47,599 essential service workers to come with their families. Maybe they're in 355 01:58:45,679 --> 01:58:52,080 transition like uh the doctor that came to Tofino and is now established and 356 01:58:50,080 --> 01:58:56,320 owns his own home and stays. If we didn't have that uh if we didn't have 357 01:58:53,760 --> 01:59:00,480 that condo townhouse or town home actually uh he wouldn't have been able 358 01:58:57,920 --> 01:59:05,280 to do that. We'd be out a doctor and out of family and his uh his wife is 359 01:59:03,040 --> 01:59:09,040 actually running the uh uh school programs. 360 01:59:07,040 --> 01:59:12,960 And so you do have a big problem and the market isn't going to fix it. So you 361 01:59:10,480 --> 01:59:16,800 have uh you have a good a you know you've got uh good opportunity for a 362 01:59:15,360 --> 01:59:22,000 housing corporation. You got lots of land and you have funding. You have 363 01:59:19,280 --> 01:59:26,560 nonpropy tax revenue uh that you can put towards this. So you can see a little 364 01:59:24,159 --> 01:59:29,560 family and workforce squeeze. Um 365 01:59:31,440 --> 01:59:37,840 read through that. So really in Pal River, 366 01:59:36,000 --> 01:59:41,840 Deina Housing Pow River Housing Corporation if that's something you're 367 01:59:39,119 --> 01:59:45,679 interested would unlock a missing middle uh if council and the and the 368 01:59:43,440 --> 01:59:52,040 corporation the community wanted to. It could be uh like it is in Tofino an 369 01:59:48,719 --> 01:59:52,040 essential asset. 370 01:59:54,480 --> 02:00:02,560 It is arms length. nonprofit and uh and if it was ever to dissolve, 371 02:00:00,880 --> 02:00:07,760 if a Tofino Housing Corporation was ever to dissolve, all of that land goes back 372 02:00:04,719 --> 02:00:11,760 uh to the district of Tofino. So, uh that's all I have to say. Thanks for the 373 02:00:09,360 --> 02:00:20,400 extra time. I will put one more plug in for pickle ball for the mayor. Uh Tofino 374 02:00:16,080 --> 02:00:26,239 was redoing its uh its uh tennis courts and we got basically uh bombarded by the 375 02:00:24,000 --> 02:00:34,239 pickle ball crew. and uh who wanted pickle ball. And so we 376 02:00:29,760 --> 02:00:39,520 uh we said fine, we'll look into it. Uh and we ended up uh putting in a 377 02:00:36,480 --> 02:00:45,679 significant number of pickle ball courts uh part of our renovation of our 378 02:00:42,480 --> 02:00:50,159 downtown. And it was the best thing that I have ever seen. [laughter] 379 02:00:47,679 --> 02:00:53,440 Just saying. Is hundreds and hundreds of people use pickle ball every day. every 380 02:00:51,599 --> 02:00:59,040 from little kids all the way up to people uh in their 80s, maybe even 381 02:00:55,760 --> 02:01:03,440 older. And uh wow, was it cheap and successful. So, there's another success 382 02:01:01,280 --> 02:01:07,760 story to shove on top of the Tofino Housing Corporation. That's a little 383 02:01:04,960 --> 02:01:10,800 plug for the male mayor's pickle bill. Uh anyway, there you go. That's it. 384 02:01:09,199 --> 02:01:15,920 That's it for me. So, uh thanks for letting me run over time and I can stay 385 02:01:13,199 --> 02:01:19,960 for a couple questions if you'd like. >> Great. Council me. 386 02:01:20,408 --> 02:01:24,880 [clears throat] I think councelor Isacson already uh handled a couple of 387 02:01:23,360 --> 02:01:28,480 the questions I had top of mind. So appreciate you coming. Um I'm guessing 388 02:01:26,480 --> 02:01:31,679 the pickleball courts are outdoor courts that you have and are they shared 389 02:01:30,080 --> 02:01:36,719 pickleball/tennis courts? Are they independent altogether? 390 02:01:33,599 --> 02:01:40,239 » We kept one one tennis court. Uh, our CEO loves tennis and there's a lot of 391 02:01:38,880 --> 02:01:44,719 people who play tennis. So, we kept one and then we put uh we converted the 392 02:01:42,080 --> 02:01:48,400 other tennis court and we expanded uh the footprint a little bit just so we 393 02:01:46,159 --> 02:01:52,560 could fit in the pickle ball pickle ball courts that uh that the community wanted 394 02:01:50,719 --> 02:01:57,840 and it was it was the right it was the right thing and it is outside. We're 395 02:01:54,320 --> 02:02:02,080 going to light them. Uclullet uh I think I think in our our success 396 02:02:00,560 --> 02:02:05,760 with pickle balls kind of spilled over and Uclue wants to build pickle ball 397 02:02:04,159 --> 02:02:10,400 court. So, they have a two-stage process where they're going to build the courts 398 02:02:07,840 --> 02:02:15,199 and as the second stage, they've got a uh a cover that goes over it. So, it's 399 02:02:12,800 --> 02:02:19,920 not as expensive as a full indoor pickle ball uh court would be for a little tiny 400 02:02:17,599 --> 02:02:23,360 town like you cool it, 1900 people, but they've got enough funding and uh 401 02:02:21,920 --> 02:02:28,320 they've found a way to do it so that it'll be in in it'll be all year round 402 02:02:26,000 --> 02:02:31,960 indoor, but uh but very inexpensive. So, we'll see how that goes. 403 02:02:32,400 --> 02:02:39,664 Questions? sounds. 404 02:02:37,520 --> 02:02:42,284 » Thank you. Your worship [laughter] 405 02:02:40,719 --> 02:02:44,400 go [clears throat] 406 02:02:43,040 --> 02:02:48,960 too many people that way who's standing at that podium. Um I'm just wondering if 407 02:02:47,440 --> 02:02:54,719 you're um I really appreciate you coming. We have been talking about 408 02:02:52,080 --> 02:03:01,199 things like this for a long long time. in previous terms. We've looked at uh 409 02:02:57,360 --> 02:03:06,480 the Whistller's um initiative as well that goes back as far as yours pretty 410 02:03:03,199 --> 02:03:10,400 much maybe even farther. Uh they're faced with similar challenges. Um it 411 02:03:08,880 --> 02:03:15,520 certainly is interesting because housing is huge and definitely seniors. You're 412 02:03:13,440 --> 02:03:19,679 targeting seniors. This this is a significant question here. I'm just 413 02:03:17,199 --> 02:03:25,280 wondering if um haven't had a chance to look over uh the what's available on the 414 02:03:23,440 --> 02:03:30,560 website for Trino Housing Incorporation, but I'm wondering if your uh slides 415 02:03:26,960 --> 02:03:34,719 might be available to us and I had another question which just slipped my 416 02:03:32,239 --> 02:03:39,040 mind. Um yeah, basically just looking for more 417 02:03:36,480 --> 02:03:43,040 information. Absolutely. we I can share these slides with you and uh the Tofino 418 02:03:41,599 --> 02:03:48,400 Housing Corporation website has lots of information and I was going to also make 419 02:03:45,760 --> 02:03:56,320 a plug the uh September 20th in Parksville which is not too far away 420 02:03:51,760 --> 02:04:01,040 uh is there's a uh a housing convention and uh the chair of the 421 02:03:58,800 --> 02:04:06,320 Tofino Housing Corporation uh fellow counselor uh invited invited you all to 422 02:04:04,239 --> 02:04:10,159 come. So uh he said get them to come and they can talk one-on-one. And I was also 423 02:04:08,320 --> 02:04:14,480 going to say you know because the Tino Housing Corporation has done a lot of 424 02:04:11,199 --> 02:04:21,520 work uh you know with the terms of reference 425 02:04:16,960 --> 02:04:26,400 um you know understanding policy uh and we have the connections you know 426 02:04:24,000 --> 02:04:32,639 if you know if staff was interested we could we could uh you know introduce you 427 02:04:28,960 --> 02:04:36,080 to to Ian Scott at city spaces and uh to have a conversation. And so just so that 428 02:04:34,080 --> 02:04:41,280 you understand, you know, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. It's already been 429 02:04:39,040 --> 02:04:45,440 invented. You just have to tweak it for Powell River if if that's what council 430 02:04:43,280 --> 02:04:49,440 wants to do. >> Great. 431 02:04:47,360 --> 02:04:55,360 Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Uh and I'm sure that uh we'll get back 432 02:04:52,719 --> 02:05:00,546 to you for further clarification. So thank you your worship. 433 02:04:56,719 --> 02:05:00,546 » Thank you your worship. [laughter] 434 02:05:07,760 --> 02:05:14,880 So we'll now move to the consent agenda. >> Yes, council Isac. 435 02:05:13,119 --> 02:05:21,840 » I'll move adoption of the August 20th, 2026 content uh consent agenda. 436 02:05:18,400 --> 02:05:28,119 » I councelor Selkott. Any further discussion? All in favor? Passed 437 02:05:25,119 --> 02:05:28,119 unanimously. 438 02:05:28,719 --> 02:05:39,560 We'll now move to legislative matters 11.1 the seawalk restoration project 439 02:05:36,560 --> 02:05:39,560 manager. 440 02:05:48,960 --> 02:05:56,320 » Good evening and council. I as you mentioned I'm here tonight to 441 02:05:54,560 --> 02:06:01,920 present on the seawalk restoration project. I know that this is a priority 442 02:06:00,239 --> 02:06:04,800 project for the community and council and something that we're very excited 443 02:06:03,440 --> 02:06:11,119 about uh over in the engineering department and the city as a whole. Um 444 02:06:08,000 --> 02:06:13,920 as I mentioned in my report, uh the purpose of this report today and 445 02:06:12,400 --> 02:06:18,080 presentation is to present the results of the invitation to tender. I request 446 02:06:16,400 --> 02:06:22,480 council approval to award the construction contract to the successful 447 02:06:19,840 --> 02:06:26,239 proponent. uh present the Powell River Community Forest letter confirming its 448 02:06:24,320 --> 02:06:31,280 support of the phase 2 funding as described in this report uh and request 449 02:06:29,280 --> 02:06:35,280 council authorization to submit an application to the built community 450 02:06:32,800 --> 02:06:39,440 strong fund uh local impact stream in British Columbia for grant funding to 451 02:06:37,440 --> 02:06:44,159 support construction of the Seawwalk restoration project. 452 02:06:41,520 --> 02:06:49,840 Um it's the recommendation uh that council uh receive the results of tender 453 02:06:47,119 --> 02:06:55,960 uh award the contract uh as recommended to Hazlewood Construction uh in the 454 02:06:52,480 --> 02:06:55,960 amount of $819,513.36 455 02:06:56,719 --> 02:07:03,199 plus GST. uh that council received the Power River Community Forest letter 456 02:07:01,599 --> 02:07:08,400 confirming its financial contribution towards the Seawwalk project uh in the 457 02:07:05,679 --> 02:07:15,679 amount of $550,000 for the phase 2 component uh for a total amount of $1.53 458 02:07:12,639 --> 02:07:18,239 million. Uh and finally that council authorized staff to submit an 459 02:07:16,960 --> 02:07:22,480 application to the Build Community Strong Fund Local Impact Stream British 460 02:07:20,079 --> 02:07:26,800 Columbia uh for funding and support of this project. Um, and I do have a lot of 461 02:07:25,440 --> 02:07:31,360 information to throw at you guys today. So, I'm just going to run through my 462 02:07:28,159 --> 02:07:36,480 report uh and include a few key items here. Um, so as everyone I believe at 463 02:07:34,880 --> 02:07:41,760 this table is aware and for those online, 464 02:07:38,239 --> 02:07:47,599 this project is uh conceived due to a storm surge uh in 2022 coinciding with a 465 02:07:45,440 --> 02:07:51,920 king tide which created some uh pretty major weather events that caused some 466 02:07:49,280 --> 02:07:57,360 significant damage uh and erosion to the trail. Uh it's primarily around the 467 02:07:55,199 --> 02:08:01,520 middle uh what I understand is known as a more or less historic phase one of the 468 02:07:59,440 --> 02:08:06,880 seawwalk uh that was done by the city in the early 2000s. Uh unfortunately the 469 02:08:03,920 --> 02:08:11,599 material that was installed there is not necessarily the ideal material for that 470 02:08:09,520 --> 02:08:15,679 application. Uh and it's also believed that it was more or less end dumped and 471 02:08:13,360 --> 02:08:19,440 not necessarily keyed in correctly. Uh which is the reason that that section 472 02:08:17,440 --> 02:08:23,520 has sustained major damage where the north and south sections have not. um 473 02:08:22,079 --> 02:08:27,679 they've all been through all the same storms over the 20 or so years of their 474 02:08:25,599 --> 02:08:31,679 existence and you'll notice that those north and south sections are holding up 475 02:08:29,040 --> 02:08:36,960 very well while the middle section has you know all but crumbled. Um and so the 476 02:08:34,239 --> 02:08:42,639 intention for this project is to take a look at those areas roughly centered 477 02:08:39,840 --> 02:08:49,360 around the west viewpoint uh as well as resurface uh the entire uh roughly 1.4 478 02:08:46,000 --> 02:08:55,119 24 km length of that trail for you know better accessibility for all residents 479 02:08:51,760 --> 02:08:58,400 of power river. Um [clears throat] the project started with uh some 480 02:08:56,719 --> 02:09:03,760 environmental and archaeological reviews of the proposed pair repair work. Uh 481 02:09:00,639 --> 02:09:07,599 this was completed back in 2023. Unfortunately there was some staff 482 02:09:05,040 --> 02:09:13,360 turnover uh around that time that put the project on hold for uh a little 483 02:09:09,920 --> 02:09:19,920 while. Uh when I arrived in 2025 it was picked back up. Uh at that point uh we 484 02:09:18,079 --> 02:09:24,880 put the project out to tender for a design and engineering consultant to 485 02:09:22,000 --> 02:09:29,119 support the design of the project uh engineering and contract administration 486 02:09:26,560 --> 02:09:34,320 all the way through to completion. uh 487 02:09:30,960 --> 02:09:39,119 uh in working with that contractor uh it was determined quite quickly that 488 02:09:36,480 --> 02:09:43,760 some of the uh I'll call them wish list items that were on the potential scope 489 02:09:41,280 --> 02:09:48,560 at the start of this project were quickly removed and the scope was 490 02:09:46,079 --> 02:09:53,119 consolidated down to what it is now. Uh and that's based on cost estimates 491 02:09:51,840 --> 02:09:59,175 environmental archaeological requirements uh that were built into the 492 02:09:55,840 --> 02:10:03,679 project or determined along the way. Um, [clears throat] 493 02:10:00,320 --> 02:10:07,440 as part of this, uh, city staff getting a better idea of what 494 02:10:05,199 --> 02:10:11,679 the actual cost of this project was, we decided that we would split it into two 495 02:10:09,360 --> 02:10:15,599 phases. Uh, these have been labeled as the critical and optional zone in our 496 02:10:13,440 --> 02:10:18,880 drawing package. Uh, but ultimately should be considered as phase one and 497 02:10:17,199 --> 02:10:22,639 phase two of this project. As I previously explained, it's all centered 498 02:10:20,719 --> 02:10:26,639 in that historic phase one section that has the end dump material that is just 499 02:10:24,239 --> 02:10:30,639 not holding up as well as it needs to. Um [snorts] 500 02:10:27,440 --> 02:10:34,320 and the large reason that uh that was chosen is again just due to the uh 501 02:10:32,960 --> 02:10:37,679 conversations we were having with our design engineer and the cost estimates 502 02:10:35,679 --> 02:10:41,520 that we were receiving. It was believed at the time that 503 02:10:39,440 --> 02:10:44,639 tackling the entire seawalk even the two zones that we were hoping for were going 504 02:10:43,199 --> 02:10:48,360 to be cost prohibitive based on the funding that we had available. 505 02:10:51,760 --> 02:10:57,679 Uh the initial archaeological review that was completed in 2023 assumed that 506 02:10:56,079 --> 02:11:01,440 all of the restoration work was going to happen from the top of the pathway and 507 02:10:59,360 --> 02:11:05,840 no machines would be uh required to enter the intertital zone. Uh as we got 508 02:11:04,239 --> 02:11:08,960 deeper into the required restoration work, we realized that that was not 509 02:11:07,119 --> 02:11:12,480 going to be feasible and therefore some additional archaeological reviews were 510 02:11:10,719 --> 02:11:16,880 required uh just to ensure that we weren't encroaching on any features 511 02:11:13,920 --> 02:11:23,119 within uh the foreshore. uh that was attempted on December 5th of 512 02:11:20,400 --> 02:11:27,679 last year, but unfortunately the tide levels did not drop low enough to expose 513 02:11:25,599 --> 02:11:34,079 all of the features in that intertidal zone and therefore the archaeologist was 514 02:11:30,719 --> 02:11:38,000 forced to delay until the spring uh when those tides reached more optimal level 515 02:11:35,760 --> 02:11:41,599 and she was actually able to survey uh the entire foreshore. So there was 516 02:11:39,599 --> 02:11:47,119 unfortunately significant delays uh created by that but uh there it was 517 02:11:44,800 --> 02:11:54,320 unfortunately a we were fighting against the tides which is a losing battle. Um 518 02:11:51,181 --> 02:11:59,199 [clears throat] after receiving our uh archaeological assessment on April 20th 519 02:11:57,119 --> 02:12:03,280 uh we received a report about a month later that identified several features 520 02:12:01,599 --> 02:12:07,840 uh that our current design had conflicted with. Um so at that point uh 521 02:12:06,320 --> 02:12:13,280 we went back to the design table with our engineer uh put our heads together 522 02:12:10,719 --> 02:12:18,159 and came up with some options to avoid those conflicts. Uh we were able to 523 02:12:15,440 --> 02:12:22,000 avoid all but one. Uh and through consultation with Tommination and the 524 02:12:19,760 --> 02:12:26,480 archaeologist it was determined that complete avoidance of that feature was 525 02:12:24,000 --> 02:12:32,079 the desired path forward. And so we revised our design to accommodate that 526 02:12:28,719 --> 02:12:36,960 feature and went to tender as as quickly as we were able. [snorts] Um part 527 02:12:35,066 --> 02:12:43,040 [clears throat] of the requirements for the archaeological process is uh she 528 02:12:40,800 --> 02:12:47,440 performed some updated site mapping that more specifically uh located the 529 02:12:45,760 --> 02:12:52,800 archaeological features down the beach. Previously the entire beach uh up into 530 02:12:50,639 --> 02:12:57,040 even up the hill uh towards the highway there was designated as an 531 02:12:54,560 --> 02:13:01,360 archaeological significant zone uh which is not necessarily reflective of what is 532 02:12:59,119 --> 02:13:05,679 actually in that area. Uh so the work that the archaeologist was doing was to 533 02:13:03,280 --> 02:13:09,360 revise that mapping uh bring it down to its true location which actually did 534 02:13:07,520 --> 02:13:15,440 remove a good portion of that seawalk from the uh what's just known as more or 535 02:13:12,159 --> 02:13:19,280 less the red zone uh which allowed us to do the work that we were planning on 536 02:13:17,119 --> 02:13:24,000 doing uh without without going through the site alteration permit process which 537 02:13:21,599 --> 02:13:30,000 is upwards of a year uh processing time with the BC archaeology branch. [snorts] 538 02:13:27,119 --> 02:13:34,480 uh that site mapping uh was sent into the BC archaeology branch shortly after 539 02:13:31,760 --> 02:13:38,880 the report was created. Um there's unfortunately no committed turnaround 540 02:13:36,159 --> 02:13:41,840 time on that response and uh given the permitting times that the archaeology 541 02:13:40,320 --> 02:13:45,520 branch is typically maintaining, it's not a quick review. It's not a quick 542 02:13:43,360 --> 02:13:50,400 turnaround. Uh but we did have some confidence that we would get a response 543 02:13:47,679 --> 02:13:54,560 uh before this fall at this time. We are still waiting for that response and so 544 02:13:51,920 --> 02:14:00,079 our project start date is still a precaution to be transparent. Um but the 545 02:13:58,800 --> 02:14:06,119 city has done absolutely everything we can to be ready to start uh when we get 546 02:14:02,320 --> 02:14:06,119 that green light to go. 547 02:14:08,800 --> 02:14:17,360 Uh so as I mentioned uh tender results uh the city issued a tender uh in July 548 02:14:15,280 --> 02:14:21,599 which closed uh early August. We did receive four compliant bids from some 549 02:14:19,440 --> 02:14:26,239 reputable contractors. Uh we were actually quite pleased to see that uh 550 02:14:23,840 --> 02:14:29,360 some of the uh sub well most of the submissions we received actually were 551 02:14:27,679 --> 02:14:34,159 quite a bit lower than the cost estimate that our engineer had put together. Uh 552 02:14:31,599 --> 02:14:39,360 which is um a first for me which was very exciting to see. Um the low 553 02:14:37,760 --> 02:14:43,560 submission was from Hazlewood Construction at a value of $819,513.36. 554 02:14:45,599 --> 02:14:56,159 Um and after evaluating Hazelwood uh based on their submission uh and also 555 02:14:54,480 --> 02:14:59,520 helps that our design engineer had some experience working with them in other 556 02:14:57,599 --> 02:15:03,679 projects and was aware of you know the the type of company that they are and 557 02:15:01,360 --> 02:15:09,320 therefore uh it is city staff's recommendation that this contract be 558 02:15:05,440 --> 02:15:09,320 awarded uh to Hazlewood. 559 02:15:09,599 --> 02:15:15,920 Uh regarding the Power River Community Forest funding, uh as noted at the 560 02:15:14,239 --> 02:15:19,280 start, uh Power River Community Forest has provided a letter uh confirming 561 02:15:17,920 --> 02:15:24,239 their financial support for the Seawwalk. Um and this is at a total 562 02:15:21,920 --> 02:15:29,280 value of 1.53 million. And I would just like to clarify that uh this number was 563 02:15:26,560 --> 02:15:32,880 originally conceived uh based upon the original cost estimates that we had 564 02:15:30,800 --> 02:15:37,280 received from our design engineer and also in anticipation that this work 565 02:15:34,880 --> 02:15:43,119 would be phased over a number of years. Uh so that secondary the phase two value 566 02:15:40,159 --> 02:15:47,679 did have uh some cost isolations uh added to it for uh the duration 567 02:15:46,400 --> 02:15:52,239 essentially that was expected before we began with that work. Um as well as to 568 02:15:50,159 --> 02:15:55,520 account for remaining archaeological monitoring, environmental monitoring uh 569 02:15:54,159 --> 02:15:59,040 you know construction administration support 570 02:15:57,520 --> 02:16:08,520 nation culture and heritage technicians as required through construction uh to 571 02:16:01,520 --> 02:16:08,520 take us to uh the end of the project. Um 572 02:16:09,440 --> 02:16:15,760 uh any unused funds from this project will remain in the reserve and be 573 02:16:14,079 --> 02:16:20,320 available for other opportunities as recommended by community forest and 574 02:16:17,280 --> 02:16:25,440 approved by council. Um, and as I'll get into in my next uh paragraph here, uh, 575 02:16:23,040 --> 02:16:30,000 if the city is successful in the grant application that we are interested in 576 02:16:27,040 --> 02:16:34,639 submitting, I some additional funds will be able to remain in that reserve uh, 577 02:16:32,639 --> 02:16:38,679 and not be not be used on this project and available for future opportunities. 578 02:16:39,840 --> 02:16:46,960 Uh so the build community strong fund uh has been identified as a significant 579 02:16:45,599 --> 02:16:51,439 funding opportunity for the Seawwalk restoration project. Uh if approved, 580 02:16:49,840 --> 02:16:58,080 this grant could potentially cover up to 50% of our remaining costs. Uh that does 581 02:16:54,880 --> 02:17:01,760 include construction uh contract administration, environmental 582 02:16:59,439 --> 02:17:05,280 archaeological support. Um so we do have a good opportunity to recoup uh some of 583 02:17:03,920 --> 02:17:09,840 the dollars that we invest in the Seawwalk. I I've confirmed that 584 02:17:07,519 --> 02:17:14,960 construction costs can be retroactively claimed. So, um you know, depending on 585 02:17:12,559 --> 02:17:20,160 when our when our start date actually is and when that grant award is announced, 586 02:17:17,359 --> 02:17:23,120 um is not exactly relevant to us, you know, being awarded that funding at the 587 02:17:21,439 --> 02:17:26,519 end of the day, which is a a great thing for this project. 588 02:17:28,800 --> 02:17:35,760 Um, one thing that I would like to note which I think just potentially has not 589 02:17:33,359 --> 02:17:40,000 been uh discussed in past grant opportunities is the opportunity cost 590 02:17:37,679 --> 02:17:44,080 that's associated with this type of uh with this type of opportunity. And of 591 02:17:42,160 --> 02:17:48,639 course, while this does require some staff time and investment in creating 592 02:17:46,000 --> 02:17:53,200 all the information, um, submitting, uh, monitoring, maintaining, reporting the 593 02:17:50,240 --> 02:18:00,399 grant, I believe that the significant funding that is available is well worth 594 02:17:55,519 --> 02:18:03,920 the staff efforts. Um and of course the time that's required could potentially 595 02:18:01,840 --> 02:18:07,280 have impacts to you know other projects but we have reviewed uh and confirm that 596 02:18:06,319 --> 02:18:11,040 we don't believe that there's going to be any you know major shifts or changes 597 02:18:09,280 --> 02:18:15,080 or any major critical path items that are affected with this grant submission. 598 02:18:25,519 --> 02:18:30,800 Um, as I had noted, the Seawalk restoration project is included within 599 02:18:28,639 --> 02:18:36,160 the city's approved capital budget. Uh, the project funding currently is uh 600 02:18:33,840 --> 02:18:40,880 entire power entirely Powell River Community Forest backed. Uh, but the 601 02:18:38,880 --> 02:18:46,000 hope is that we will also secure some of our some of this build community strong 602 02:18:43,359 --> 02:18:49,880 uh funding to offset some of the Pow River Community Forest costs. 603 02:18:55,840 --> 02:19:02,800 um based on the results of the tender and 604 02:18:59,920 --> 02:19:06,479 the other estimated remaining costs. Um of course you'll see that there's a bit 605 02:19:04,000 --> 02:19:10,880 of a discrepancy between our estimated uh construction cost and our total 606 02:19:08,000 --> 02:19:16,319 available budget. It is city staff's recommendation that that total budget be 607 02:19:13,519 --> 02:19:22,559 left available for this project. Uh the reason for that is that at the start of 608 02:19:18,559 --> 02:19:27,120 this project, due to the uh anticipated costs of the work, we did trim a few 609 02:19:24,559 --> 02:19:30,399 scope items out that would be desirable to include back in if we do have the 610 02:19:28,639 --> 02:19:34,639 funding to do it. Uh for example, there's a few areas outside of the 611 02:19:32,000 --> 02:19:40,559 critical and optional zones where a few stones have come loose from uh you know 612 02:19:37,840 --> 02:19:46,080 tidal activity, uh winter storms, that sort of thing. And it would be uh 613 02:19:42,399 --> 02:19:49,280 beneficial to uh the community and this project if we were able to include some 614 02:19:47,920 --> 02:19:54,000 of those additional items that we had cut originally uh from scope. We are 615 02:19:51,920 --> 02:19:58,720 seeing that it's quite stringent the planning permitting uh environmental 616 02:19:56,720 --> 02:20:02,880 archaeological assessment process to get into the intertitle zone and so we do 617 02:20:00,720 --> 02:20:08,000 believe it's most advantageous to fit as much as we can uh in this current 618 02:20:04,800 --> 02:20:10,800 project. Um, we are going to look at some improvements and enhancements that 619 02:20:09,520 --> 02:20:14,479 we can potentially make to the current design with our design engineer. Uh, but 620 02:20:12,880 --> 02:20:18,840 I I don't want to commit today to what those might look like at the end of the 621 02:20:15,840 --> 02:20:18,840 day. 622 02:20:19,680 --> 02:20:24,880 Um, [clears throat] uh, construction of the Seawwalk 623 02:20:23,600 --> 02:20:28,399 restoration project is going to be delivered primarily through external 624 02:20:26,560 --> 02:20:32,080 contractors and consultants. Uh following completion, the restored 625 02:20:30,399 --> 02:20:36,640 shoreline and seawalk infrastructure will continue to be maintained through 626 02:20:34,000 --> 02:20:41,600 existing city operations. Uh the improvements are expected to reduce wave 627 02:20:38,880 --> 02:20:46,399 action hopefully uh reducing frequency of over topping or losing any gravel on 628 02:20:43,760 --> 02:20:49,840 that trail which will hopefully in uh at the same time reduce the amount of 629 02:20:47,600 --> 02:20:53,600 maintenance uh that is required down there. 630 02:20:51,439 --> 02:20:56,800 Um [clears throat] uh during construction, temporary pathway closures 631 02:20:55,280 --> 02:21:02,800 and traffic management measures are going to be required. And uh we will 632 02:20:59,439 --> 02:21:06,479 work with uh uh excuse me, [clears throat] work with 633 02:21:04,399 --> 02:21:10,399 the contractor to minimize disruption to residents, businesses, and visitors 634 02:21:08,640 --> 02:21:14,920 through the appropriate communication, construction, staging, and signage. 635 02:21:17,280 --> 02:21:23,359 And just the last item that I'll note is just that this project aligns with uh 636 02:21:21,359 --> 02:21:26,880 council's strategic priority for healthy community uh providing facilities and 637 02:21:25,520 --> 02:21:31,120 staff for recreation and culture activities that define our community and 638 02:21:28,399 --> 02:21:33,439 make it where people want to live. Um while working with nonprofit partners 639 02:21:32,399 --> 02:21:37,520 through grants and partnerships to achieve social goals. 640 02:21:36,560 --> 02:21:41,280 » There any questions? >> Thank you very much. 641 02:21:39,760 --> 02:21:44,960 » Councelor Isacson. >> Thank you mayor. Um, one question 642 02:21:43,120 --> 02:21:49,439 through the mayor to staff. Um, the build community strong fund is the 643 02:21:47,680 --> 02:21:52,720 source that you that have been identified as prime for this. I'm 644 02:21:51,120 --> 02:21:57,200 wondering, uh, and this may be a question for the CEO or other staff. Um, 645 02:21:55,600 --> 02:22:01,520 were there other projects that were considered for the build community 646 02:21:58,640 --> 02:22:05,200 strong fund that were deci that were put aside and this one was decided that it 647 02:22:03,280 --> 02:22:10,560 was most suitable and and what was behind that decision? uh prime reason 648 02:22:08,640 --> 02:22:14,319 for selecting this project was the shovel ready requirement that's 649 02:22:12,080 --> 02:22:18,880 associated with that grant fund. Uh we did look at a couple other projects as 650 02:22:16,479 --> 02:22:22,880 well. Um some of the other projects actually already did have some grant 651 02:22:20,240 --> 02:22:26,160 funding approved for them and so it was determined that the seawwalk made made 652 02:22:24,800 --> 02:22:30,680 the most sense for this particular project and this particular value. 653 02:22:30,720 --> 02:22:36,640 » Councelor Palm. >> Thank you worship. Uh first of all I 654 02:22:34,080 --> 02:22:43,920 just want to say uh great job on a very comprehensive uh report. It has all the 655 02:22:40,319 --> 02:22:50,640 uh details fully involved and uh gives us a good look at where we're at. 656 02:22:47,760 --> 02:22:56,160 um start of this term, my phone was ringing, 657 02:22:52,240 --> 02:22:59,760 if not monthly, bimonthly, as to where are the repairs on the seawalk from our 658 02:22:58,080 --> 02:23:03,920 citizens and uh just had to keep referring to 659 02:23:02,000 --> 02:23:08,319 staff and say, "Hey, we've we've got some turnover issues that we're dealing 660 02:23:05,840 --> 02:23:13,359 with and things aren't moving too quickly." And then uh we heard the ark 661 02:23:10,720 --> 02:23:18,479 branch was involved which further complicated the issue issue of m uh 662 02:23:16,479 --> 02:23:22,960 restoration. But you know I can't jump up and down 663 02:23:20,720 --> 02:23:28,080 today because the money's there from thank goodness from our community forest 664 02:23:24,800 --> 02:23:32,800 as always. Uh uh what they do for this community is outstanding and if it 665 02:23:30,560 --> 02:23:37,840 wasn't for them uh we would be in deep dudu financially. 666 02:23:35,120 --> 02:23:43,120 But the bottom line is we can't jump it up up and down today because we're still 667 02:23:39,840 --> 02:23:50,379 waiting for an answer as to when we can start the project. Is there a time limit 668 02:23:46,160 --> 02:23:54,560 on the tender that uh has been accepted? >> [clears throat] 669 02:23:50,720 --> 02:23:58,720 » uh based upon the uncertainty with uh the timing of the response from the BC 670 02:23:56,399 --> 02:24:03,920 archaeology branch, we actually did put a total completion requirement of May 671 02:24:01,040 --> 02:24:09,520 31st of the following uh this following year of 2027. Uh so we have that 672 02:24:06,399 --> 02:24:14,880 contractor until then essentially. >> I understand in your report uh the 673 02:24:11,760 --> 02:24:18,240 archeological branch work uh there is being expedited. 674 02:24:16,640 --> 02:24:23,520 » That is correct. >> Very good. Thank you very much for your 675 02:24:20,160 --> 02:24:27,920 report, Council Silka. >> Thank you, Bishop. Um, thank you very 676 02:24:25,840 --> 02:24:32,800 much for reporting to this about this. Um, as councelor Palm says, huge 677 02:24:30,960 --> 02:24:38,080 interest in our community and we've heard over and over actually recently 678 02:24:35,760 --> 02:24:43,840 not so many questions, but people are patient and they still want it. Um 679 02:24:41,439 --> 02:24:48,880 so I as I remember from the report there is no conflict between receiving that 680 02:24:46,560 --> 02:24:54,399 report to so the go for the project and the uh build a community strong grant. 681 02:24:51,280 --> 02:24:59,760 My real question is can you explain briefly the difference between uh the 682 02:24:57,200 --> 02:25:04,640 phase one and phase two? Is it rip wrap on the surface or end dumping? I don't 683 02:25:01,920 --> 02:25:10,160 know what that or end dump. Not sure what that term means. I more or less 684 02:25:08,319 --> 02:25:14,080 picture a large dump truck that is simply just dumping the rocks out the 685 02:25:12,000 --> 02:25:18,240 end of the truck to put it very simply. Uh it's not being keyed in properly like 686 02:25:16,479 --> 02:25:23,120 a puzzle like you'll see in that north and south section more or less a pile 687 02:25:21,520 --> 02:25:25,840 that has been pushed up against the revetment 688 02:25:23,840 --> 02:25:30,160 » and that will be on the surface of the like the instead of rip wrap basically 689 02:25:28,399 --> 02:25:33,040 » it still will be rip wrap it'll be it will look the intention is for it to 690 02:25:31,600 --> 02:25:36,720 look quite similar to what we have on the north and south sections. we 691 02:25:34,399 --> 02:25:40,160 actually are going going to go with uh a bit more of a shallow slope so it will 692 02:25:38,560 --> 02:25:44,560 stick out you know a bit further which will help to slow down that wave action 693 02:25:42,479 --> 02:25:49,680 and protect that part of the pathway better. Uh but the intention is to end 694 02:25:47,120 --> 02:25:51,520 up with something that looks similar to what we have in those north and south 695 02:25:50,960 --> 02:25:56,160 sections. >> Thank you. 696 02:25:53,760 --> 02:26:02,080 » Okay. Uh would anybody care to put forward motions? Uh yes, Council Isaac. 697 02:25:59,920 --> 02:26:07,720 » Uh thank you. I move that council receive the results of invitation to 698 02:26:03,439 --> 02:26:07,720 tender uh 1220-20-0704 699 02:26:07,760 --> 02:26:14,319 for the Seawwalk restoration project that council award contract number 700 02:26:11,359 --> 02:26:17,840 2320-20-2375 for the Seawwalk restoration project to 701 02:26:15,760 --> 02:26:22,880 Hazelwood Construction in the amount of 819,513.36 702 02:26:20,800 --> 02:26:25,760 excluding GSD. The council received the Pel River Community Forest letter 703 02:26:24,160 --> 02:26:30,160 confirming its financial contribution toward the Seawwalk restoration project 704 02:26:27,280 --> 02:26:35,920 in the amount of 550,000 for phase 2 and a total project of amount of 1,530,000 705 02:26:34,080 --> 02:26:41,040 and that council authorized staff to submit an application to the build 706 02:26:37,600 --> 02:26:46,000 community strong fund BCSF local impact stream in British Columbia with a U not 707 02:26:43,520 --> 02:26:51,439 an O uh for funding in support of the Seawalk restoration project. Thank you. 708 02:26:48,319 --> 02:26:58,720 » Thank you Omita. Any further questions? Call the motion. All in favor? 709 02:26:56,160 --> 02:27:03,479 That's unanimously. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mayor Council. 710 02:27:00,160 --> 02:27:03,479 » Thank you, John. 711 02:27:04,319 --> 02:27:13,760 » Next item is 11.2. But just before we get there, I know that our CEO has had a 712 02:27:10,560 --> 02:27:18,520 challenging day. [laughter] Um, would you like to excuse yourself at this 713 02:27:15,520 --> 02:27:18,520 point? 714 02:27:18,800 --> 02:27:26,160 » Well, uh, thank you for the offer. I'm okay, though. Thanks. 715 02:27:23,600 --> 02:27:30,120 » Is Willington Beach campsite bylaw update director of parks? 716 02:27:30,560 --> 02:27:37,359 » Thank you, mayor, for the opportunity to present this report to you and council. 717 02:27:34,960 --> 02:27:42,800 This report outlines proposed changes to the bylaw that regulates and fixes rates 718 02:27:39,760 --> 02:27:48,080 for the Willington Beach campsite. It follows direction from council in 719 02:27:44,560 --> 02:27:53,680 February of 2025 to increase revenues from recreation fees by 10%. Note that 720 02:27:51,760 --> 02:27:58,080 part of this direction has already been accomplished through the adoption of 721 02:27:55,040 --> 02:28:01,439 bylaw 27742025 which fixes rates for the recreation 722 02:27:59,840 --> 02:28:05,600 complex. For context, staff would like to remind 723 02:28:04,160 --> 02:28:10,880 Mayor and council that the Willington Beach campsite is a unique operation 724 02:28:08,319 --> 02:28:14,960 being the only yearround municipally campground of its size and nature in 725 02:28:13,040 --> 02:28:19,280 British Columbia. Generates significant revenue for the 726 02:28:17,359 --> 02:28:25,680 city of Pal River with an average revenue of $440,000 per year for the 727 02:28:22,720 --> 02:28:31,600 last three calendar years. Approximately 85% of this revenue is generated from 728 02:28:28,240 --> 02:28:37,120 visitors outside of our regional area. The proposed new rates will increase on 729 02:28:33,680 --> 02:28:42,880 average by 10% during our 2027 peak operating season with modest increases 730 02:28:39,920 --> 02:28:46,720 of about 2.2% per year for the two years following. 731 02:28:44,720 --> 02:28:51,840 In the development of the new proposed rates, staff took the opportunity to 732 02:28:48,880 --> 02:28:58,399 rightsize pricing inconsistencies, ensuring a logical and methodolog 733 02:28:54,960 --> 02:29:04,560 methodical approach to assigning specific values to amenities such as 734 02:29:01,520 --> 02:29:10,880 electrical hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, and ocean views. 735 02:29:07,840 --> 02:29:15,760 Senior rates are proposed to remain at a 10% discount. 736 02:29:12,960 --> 02:29:22,160 Offseason extended stay rates are proposed to remain at a 20% discount. 737 02:29:19,760 --> 02:29:26,240 Overall staff anticipate demand for the campsite to remain constant and that a 738 02:29:24,080 --> 02:29:33,280 10% increase in revenues be recognized for the 2627 camping season. 739 02:29:30,720 --> 02:29:40,280 Staff are recommending that bylaw 2823 2026 be given first, second, and third 740 02:29:35,840 --> 02:29:40,280 reading. Happy to answer any questions. 741 02:29:41,359 --> 02:29:48,160 » Thank you, Bishop. Just one question. Um, 742 02:29:45,680 --> 02:29:54,240 it's been my understanding for a long time that CPI is not a good indicator of 743 02:29:51,359 --> 02:30:01,439 actual inflation of costs. Uh, you know, we know what it's indexed 744 02:29:57,439 --> 02:30:05,520 to. Um, but it so the question is, is it is it reasonable or is it wise? Like 745 02:30:03,520 --> 02:30:11,680 obviously you've made this suggestion because you believe it is. So I'm I'm 746 02:30:08,160 --> 02:30:19,280 wondering why we index 2 CPI because it's a cost related um um factor here 747 02:30:16,720 --> 02:30:26,319 increasing our revenues from the uh campsite designed to track costs and not 748 02:30:22,720 --> 02:30:31,520 and not uh the inflation of um revenues basically for everybody. So is that a 749 02:30:29,359 --> 02:30:37,840 clear did I express myself clearly? I always wonder 750 02:30:34,319 --> 02:30:41,680 » through the mayor uh we didn't analyze that too deeply. We're our typical 751 02:30:39,760 --> 02:30:48,399 standard practice is to increase roughly by by that factor. Uh however in this 752 02:30:44,880 --> 02:30:53,120 case um this is a this is a bit more of a revenue driver than it is an expense. 753 02:30:50,479 --> 02:30:55,600 Uh that said, we will take that into 754 02:30:54,479 --> 02:30:59,439 consideration when we're looking at other fees and other increases and 755 02:30:57,520 --> 02:31:02,160 perhaps be a bit more prudent in what we are raising what we are comparing our 756 02:31:01,040 --> 02:31:07,439 raises to. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. 757 02:31:04,960 --> 02:31:11,439 » Okay, councelor out. 758 02:31:09,200 --> 02:31:15,600 I want to thank you for the report and as my recollection when we were talking 759 02:31:13,760 --> 02:31:19,600 about the budget and how much we're going to have to ask the taxpayers to 760 02:31:17,439 --> 02:31:23,920 pay, we were looking for additional sources of revenue that we could 761 02:31:21,280 --> 02:31:29,200 reasonably get without costing people in Fall River more money. And uh made sense 762 02:31:26,800 --> 02:31:37,040 to me to vote to increase the revenue from the the park basically to uh help 763 02:31:34,160 --> 02:31:43,479 us to avoid tax increases. Pretty good idea, I think. And uh I appreciate the 764 02:31:39,600 --> 02:31:43,479 report and I hope it works. 765 02:31:46,640 --> 02:31:55,520 » Chair, just a quick um historical perspective here. Uh wasn't too long ago 766 02:31:53,280 --> 02:32:00,560 when we were told by staff that were producing a couple hundred,000 in uh 767 02:31:57,920 --> 02:32:06,800 revenue, which was profit on an annual basis. I see your figure is 440. 768 02:32:04,399 --> 02:32:12,479 I know the operational cost uh trying to get somebody to run the campsite has 769 02:32:09,280 --> 02:32:18,479 also increased. Um in terms of revenue generation out of that 440, what are we 770 02:32:14,720 --> 02:32:21,520 looking at on an annual basis? >> I don't have those numbers specifically 771 02:32:19,920 --> 02:32:24,399 in front of me, but I can easily get them for you. 772 02:32:22,399 --> 02:32:30,080 » Thank you. >> Okay, we have a motion. If there's no 773 02:32:26,479 --> 02:32:36,800 further discussion, I will call a motion. All in favor? 774 02:32:33,040 --> 02:32:41,200 I don't think it's been moved yet. >> We move the motion. 775 02:32:39,920 --> 02:32:46,479 » Move the motion. Um, >> move the motion 776 02:32:41,920 --> 02:32:50,080 » that the city of Pal River bylaw 2823- or comma 2026 be given first, second, 777 02:32:48,560 --> 02:32:54,035 and third reading. >> Seconded by 778 02:32:52,319 --> 02:32:58,399 Omea. [clears throat] 779 02:32:54,720 --> 02:33:02,960 All in favor? Passes unanimously. Thank you very much. 780 02:33:00,080 --> 02:33:08,880 We'll now move to 11.3 sanitary sewer system user rate amendment bylaw. 781 02:33:06,720 --> 02:33:12,800 » Thank you, mayor and council. The purpose of this report is to propose 782 02:33:10,640 --> 02:33:16,880 amending the sanitary sewer system user rates bylaw to establish rates for the 783 02:33:15,120 --> 02:33:21,200 common nation's connection to the city's sanitary sewer system. This is a great 784 02:33:19,439 --> 02:33:24,880 news story for the city. It shows regional cooperation that achieves 785 02:33:23,040 --> 02:33:29,280 economies of scale and spreads the cost across a larger user base. It was 786 02:33:27,359 --> 02:33:33,200 important to both parties while generating the rates that the rates be 787 02:33:31,040 --> 02:33:36,080 equitable for all users and this made it a real pleasure to work with the 788 02:33:34,560 --> 02:33:41,040 combination. Uh the rates are outlined in the report 789 02:33:38,800 --> 02:33:48,160 and they include all the major rates that current city payers uh pay. Um and 790 02:33:46,080 --> 02:33:52,160 this is included of debt for the construction wastewater treatment plant. 791 02:33:50,240 --> 02:33:57,800 Um I'm happy to take any questions at this time. 792 02:33:54,800 --> 02:33:57,800 » Questions? 793 02:33:59,920 --> 02:34:08,240 Council Dou. >> Oh, do do these rates take into account 794 02:34:05,520 --> 02:34:12,880 uh the future maintenance of the facility, the the wastewater treatment 795 02:34:10,479 --> 02:34:17,040 plant and the and the piping that's in the ground. So, we've got we're going to 796 02:34:15,120 --> 02:34:20,640 have some revenue to maintain all of this as we go along 797 02:34:18,319 --> 02:34:24,399 » through the mayor. That is correct. They are included in those rates. So these 798 02:34:22,399 --> 02:34:30,000 rates are inclusive of everything that city user rates uh user users would pay 799 02:34:27,840 --> 02:34:34,560 and so that includes maintenance uh that includes the debt for the construction 800 02:34:31,920 --> 02:34:37,200 it uh eventually once we start putting money towards a future wastewater 801 02:34:35,760 --> 02:34:40,520 treatment plant it'll be inclusive of that as well. 802 02:34:41,520 --> 02:34:47,920 Yes, >> to the chair, uh your worship, um just 803 02:34:44,960 --> 02:34:53,359 one pertinent point in your your report, uh for the public, um even though these 804 02:34:50,880 --> 02:35:00,560 rates are not above what our citizens are paying, uh it needs to be uh pointed 805 02:34:56,240 --> 02:35:04,560 out that because of the Colaman buyin um on the original grant funding we 806 02:35:02,800 --> 02:35:10,640 received from federal and provincial sources for the rebuild of our sewer 807 02:35:06,479 --> 02:35:13,760 plant, Wahan was a main player in our application. 808 02:35:12,160 --> 02:35:16,760 should be pointed out. Thank you very much. 809 02:35:18,080 --> 02:35:26,000 » Yeah, thank you worship. Um, one of the really salient points in this 810 02:35:23,600 --> 02:35:32,479 report, which if you read it carefully comes through clearly, very clearly, uh, 811 02:35:28,399 --> 02:35:40,640 is that the frontage fees that the city pays are bulked into the, um, one fee 812 02:35:36,319 --> 02:35:46,720 that that LMAN will pay per each um, residential unit or whoever it is that's 813 02:35:42,800 --> 02:35:50,880 that's u built for the uh, service out there. uh when you just look at the two 814 02:35:49,520 --> 02:35:55,040 different charts that are presented here, they're really big different 815 02:35:52,640 --> 02:35:58,080 numbers and I I wonder if you just might want to go over that a little bit 816 02:35:56,560 --> 02:36:02,720 specifically for the purpose of understanding in the uh in the community 817 02:36:01,200 --> 02:36:09,319 because those numbers really are different and that's I would anticipate 818 02:36:05,280 --> 02:36:09,319 that should bring up some questions. 819 02:36:20,560 --> 02:36:30,280 through the mayor. Are you referring to the sanitary uh system user rates the 820 02:36:25,040 --> 02:36:30,280 schedule A that has the in effect? 821 02:36:30,319 --> 02:36:38,240 basically just the um it's stated in the report that the 822 02:36:36,240 --> 02:36:45,600 combined frontage taxes along with the user rates so the all three different um 823 02:36:42,399 --> 02:36:50,000 um rates that the city residents are paying um are all bulked into one. I 824 02:36:47,920 --> 02:36:54,720 just thought that would be worth highlighting because of the differences 825 02:36:52,319 --> 02:36:59,840 in the numbers. It's um you know I expect questions to be asked and if 826 02:36:58,160 --> 02:37:03,359 those questions are answered before they're even asked then that makes it 827 02:37:02,319 --> 02:37:05,840 real simple >> for sure in my experience 828 02:37:04,640 --> 02:37:10,800 » through the mayor I can definitely add some highlights to that. So yes so a 829 02:37:08,479 --> 02:37:14,560 typical user in the city of Powell River essentially pays three fees. There's the 830 02:37:12,399 --> 02:37:19,040 the user fee and then there's the two frontage fees. And so the the the fee 831 02:37:17,040 --> 02:37:24,000 that we incorporated for the combination is those three combined. Um and that was 832 02:37:22,319 --> 02:37:27,439 to make sure that there's equity across all parties and to make sure that uh all 833 02:37:26,399 --> 02:37:32,880 parties are contributing to the wastewater treatment plant equally. 834 02:37:30,319 --> 02:37:39,040 Thank you very much. Somebody care to put forward a motion. 835 02:37:35,840 --> 02:37:46,880 Councel South move that the sanitary sewer system user rates bylaw 2733 2023 836 02:37:43,040 --> 02:37:51,439 amendment bylaw 2824 2026 be given first second and third readings 837 02:37:49,520 --> 02:37:55,520 by councelor all in favor 838 02:37:53,600 --> 02:38:01,680 passed unanimously you'll 839 02:37:57,280 --> 02:38:08,399 now move to new business uh 14.1 C3 meeting request regarding water 840 02:38:04,240 --> 02:38:11,399 sustainability plan for the POW and Lois Watersheds 841 02:38:15,920 --> 02:38:20,040 to speak to this item. 842 02:38:21,120 --> 02:38:28,000 » Uh thank you your worship. I can advise that this letter was passed forward uh 843 02:38:26,080 --> 02:38:32,800 through the Cath Regional District and just added to the agenda for council 844 02:38:30,399 --> 02:38:38,800 input in regards to whether or not they were interested in participating. I 845 02:38:35,280 --> 02:38:43,439 would note that the actual motion as noted in the letter goes all the way 846 02:38:40,479 --> 02:38:49,120 back to May and we're basically in August now. So, it for whatever reason 847 02:38:46,319 --> 02:38:53,520 has taken a while to get to council, but um we're just looking for some direction 848 02:38:51,200 --> 02:38:58,080 from council in terms of uh if they would like to participate. Uh noting 849 02:38:55,760 --> 02:39:04,439 that the chances of anything taking place before the end of this term are 850 02:38:59,840 --> 02:39:04,439 probably pretty slim. Thanks. 851 02:39:06,720 --> 02:39:14,280 » A question. This is under new business. I I understand it's just here for 852 02:39:11,280 --> 02:39:14,280 information. 853 02:39:17,040 --> 02:39:24,720 uh through the uh through the chair, through the mayor. Um there is a request 854 02:39:21,920 --> 02:39:28,920 in the letter and so the request is being brought forward for council 855 02:39:25,920 --> 02:39:28,920 consideration. 856 02:39:31,600 --> 02:39:37,920 » Isacson, >> I I was just going to unless there's 857 02:39:36,479 --> 02:39:41,479 happy to pause for questions. I was going to propose a motion. 858 02:39:42,479 --> 02:39:53,120 » Great. Um I move that council direct staff to respond positively to the 859 02:39:49,760 --> 02:39:56,640 request to um participate in a C3 meeting to explore a water 860 02:39:54,880 --> 02:40:01,120 sustainability plan for Powell and Lewis wersheds. 861 02:39:58,960 --> 02:40:04,080 » By councelor Omita. Any further discussion? 862 02:40:03,120 --> 02:40:10,399 Please cut. >> I have no objection to the uh motion. 863 02:40:06,640 --> 02:40:18,880 Um, and there's no time frame here. So, I'm confident that uh this could be 864 02:40:13,280 --> 02:40:25,680 added to [gasps] a future C3 meeting as when as and when one occurs. 865 02:40:23,359 --> 02:40:30,800 » Uh, all in favor your worship just clarifying question please. 866 02:40:26,880 --> 02:40:36,240 » Yes. In in the um memo to council here that is before us, there is a 867 02:40:34,080 --> 02:40:42,160 mention of a nation uh with a different name than Kahaman. Are we referring to 868 02:40:38,479 --> 02:40:48,880 Clam Nation or is it another entity? >> Shashelle Nation. That's Sea Shel. 869 02:40:45,680 --> 02:40:53,520 » Oh, interesting. Why does Sea Shel Nation factor into our 870 02:40:51,520 --> 02:41:00,960 water resources? Is it the geolog the geographic 871 02:40:58,080 --> 02:41:04,240 map that shows that there is some overlap within areas? 872 02:41:03,760 --> 02:41:08,960 » Oh, >> Shel Nation goes all the way up to 873 02:41:06,080 --> 02:41:15,160 include part of Lois and um Palm Bay, Palm Beach area and stuff. 874 02:41:12,160 --> 02:41:15,160 Yeah, 875 02:41:16,720 --> 02:41:24,240 could speak [clears throat] to the motion. Um I think my my reason for this 876 02:41:20,560 --> 02:41:30,080 is this is um largely a this is a regional district um initiative and so 877 02:41:26,720 --> 02:41:34,160 this is getting their staff to organize it and it's us to respond positively and 878 02:41:32,080 --> 02:41:39,359 so it'd be great for the future council to be able to attend a meeting um uh a 879 02:41:37,439 --> 02:41:46,399 C3 meeting and have uh something tangible on the uh agenda to explore and 880 02:41:43,280 --> 02:41:52,720 it would um it would set up the next council for um for a specific topic to 881 02:41:50,800 --> 02:41:58,240 act in the spirit of CAFED working together. Thank you. 882 02:41:56,000 --> 02:42:02,880 » See no other comments, questions. I'm going to call 883 02:42:00,319 --> 02:42:07,640 the motion. All in favor? Opposed? Passed unanimously. 884 02:42:07,680 --> 02:42:16,000 Okay, we'll now move to 14.2, two, which is the letter from the mayor of Gibson's 885 02:42:12,800 --> 02:42:22,000 regarding updating route three horseshoe beta Langdale service levels for 886 02:42:18,640 --> 02:42:28,160 performance term 7. There's uh 887 02:42:24,240 --> 02:42:31,520 staff wish to comment on the letter uh through your worship. I would just 888 02:42:29,680 --> 02:42:34,800 note that it was councelor Palm who requested this letter to come forward. 889 02:42:33,280 --> 02:42:40,319 So I'm thinking that he probably has some comments to speak to it. staff um 890 02:42:37,359 --> 02:42:44,479 do not have any comments on the letter. >> Pom, would you like to comment? 891 02:42:41,600 --> 02:42:50,240 » You worship. Uh yes, I did ask uh when I saw this letter uh of our CEO 892 02:42:48,160 --> 02:42:55,520 to add this to tonight's agenda for discussion. I think it is an excellent 893 02:42:52,880 --> 02:43:03,840 letter that has been crafted uh by the uh the mayor of uh Gibson's 894 02:43:00,319 --> 02:43:09,520 uh pointing out the growth of our population that was previously pointed 895 02:43:05,760 --> 02:43:16,000 out by our speaker earlier this evening. um this uh staffing and whatnot and how 896 02:43:14,080 --> 02:43:24,560 many fairs are running on that Langdale run is up for debate and a new uh term 897 02:43:20,640 --> 02:43:30,720 of reference will be coming a ironically on April 1st 2028 and that is quite 898 02:43:29,040 --> 02:43:39,280 ironic um knowing the state of uh the uh 899 02:43:37,040 --> 02:43:44,160 queen of Siri or otherwise has referred to in the press as the queen of sorry. 900 02:43:42,000 --> 02:43:50,080 We are in need of another ferry on that route and the bottleneck that exists 901 02:43:47,680 --> 02:43:58,240 needs to be overcome for not only the lower Sunshine Coast but how river 902 02:43:53,359 --> 02:44:02,800 itself and recently mayor we have had two meetings in our community at the rec 903 02:44:00,240 --> 02:44:09,359 complex dealing with ferry traffic to Vancouver Island and there because of 904 02:44:05,840 --> 02:44:14,319 the increase on reservation from 35% to 85% 905 02:44:10,960 --> 02:44:19,040 that has uh a ripple effect on a lot of the 906 02:44:16,800 --> 02:44:23,120 passengers on that ferry, whether they have a motorcycle, whether they have a 907 02:44:20,880 --> 02:44:29,200 medical uh condition that they have to get to, um or they just want to visit 908 02:44:26,960 --> 02:44:35,520 family out of uh town at a reasonable price because now people are paying much 909 02:44:32,399 --> 02:44:41,040 more to reserve a spot on the ferry in order to travel. 910 02:44:37,359 --> 02:44:46,720 Now, I've dealt with fairy issues since the day I came on with this council, and 911 02:44:43,840 --> 02:44:52,319 the only way we got some serious traction on the issues of our fairies 912 02:44:50,319 --> 02:44:59,760 was through either our advisory committee with face-to-face meeting with 913 02:44:56,399 --> 02:45:04,560 uh BC Ferry personnel directly in town or 914 02:45:01,279 --> 02:45:08,479 at UBCM, we were able to have a meeting with the Minister of Transportation. 915 02:45:06,880 --> 02:45:14,080 under the Liberal government at the time. And we did manage to get new 916 02:45:10,880 --> 02:45:20,479 fairies. We did manage to get free passage for youth traveling on sports 917 02:45:17,279 --> 02:45:25,600 teams out of town through uh the school district taking that on out of their 918 02:45:23,040 --> 02:45:30,720 school district office um and 919 02:45:27,920 --> 02:45:35,520 kept rates reasonable. Now, what is going on in the ferry situation these 920 02:45:33,520 --> 02:45:41,600 days with the budgeting population and more and more visitors all the time 921 02:45:37,840 --> 02:45:47,359 needs to be addressed and I think it should be upon council. I wish we had 922 02:45:45,200 --> 02:45:52,319 started up another ferry advisory internally when ours went down and they 923 02:45:50,399 --> 02:45:59,840 they refused to come to town any further. Um, Gibson's made a proactive 924 02:45:57,359 --> 02:46:05,040 uh stance and established their own. Good for them. We do not have that here, 925 02:46:02,399 --> 02:46:11,040 but we should establish something in the next term to serve this community 926 02:46:07,439 --> 02:46:17,279 better. we should advocate at UBCM and uh a letter from us at this point in 927 02:46:14,160 --> 02:46:22,319 time, your worship backing up Gibson's letter from the mayor and pointing out 928 02:46:20,399 --> 02:46:28,560 the need for better service on the Langdale run and also follow that up 929 02:46:25,200 --> 02:46:32,960 with an explanation of uh that the citizens are not happy with the 85% 930 02:46:30,960 --> 02:46:39,520 reservation and the ripple effect that has had on so many. Um, so I'm asking if 931 02:46:36,880 --> 02:46:46,560 council will consider having the mayor write a letter backing up um, the 932 02:46:42,720 --> 02:46:54,200 Gibson's letter to not only Randy Neil, but also the Minister of Transportation, 933 02:46:49,760 --> 02:46:54,200 the Honorable Mike Fworth. 934 02:46:56,399 --> 02:47:06,640 » Is that a motion? >> But yeah, I'm going to through our CEO. 935 02:47:03,760 --> 02:47:13,279 Is it appropriate before we finish discussion to have a motion come forward 936 02:47:10,319 --> 02:47:17,600 or did that wait until our discussion is finished? And if councelor 937 02:47:15,760 --> 02:47:20,880 » I I think either way would work. If someone wants to bring a motion forward 938 02:47:19,040 --> 02:47:27,680 and then speak to it, it's one thing or if council wants to to respond to uh 939 02:47:24,720 --> 02:47:32,160 councelor Palm's um um statements. 940 02:47:29,520 --> 02:47:36,960 Um, but it's it's really up to the the body to determine where to go with this. 941 02:47:34,080 --> 02:47:42,080 » Okay. So, Doubt 942 02:47:39,680 --> 02:47:46,319 going to ask councelor Doubt to continue and then we'll go back to Palm if you 943 02:47:44,720 --> 02:47:51,120 wish to put forth. >> I'm going to go with what I think the 944 02:47:48,960 --> 02:47:56,720 appropriate thing is that a city council is to have a motion to debate before we 945 02:47:53,840 --> 02:48:04,240 debate it. And I'd like to move that the mayor council requests that the mayor 946 02:48:00,640 --> 02:48:08,359 write a letter to minister Randine Neil and the minister of transportation. 947 02:48:09,520 --> 02:48:19,120 going to speak slowly requesting their support in advocating for a formal repos 948 02:48:15,600 --> 02:48:26,160 reassessment of the contractual service for route three horseshoe bay langale 949 02:48:22,560 --> 02:48:32,080 and the route from Earl's Cove to Sultry Bay as well as the route from Pow River 950 02:48:30,240 --> 02:48:39,120 to Komox as part of the province's preparation 951 02:48:35,040 --> 02:48:41,040 for performance turn seven. If there's a secondary, I'll talk to that a little 952 02:48:40,640 --> 02:48:45,120 bit. >> Seconded. 953 02:48:42,399 --> 02:48:52,000 » And uh I I like the letter. It points out the dissatisfaction that everybody 954 02:48:47,520 --> 02:48:56,880 has uh with ferry service. Obviously, Gibson's in a is in a little different 955 02:48:54,160 --> 02:49:02,479 situation. They have their own fair local ferry advisory committee set up. 956 02:49:00,080 --> 02:49:07,840 We don't have one here. have slightly different interest and and other 957 02:49:05,040 --> 02:49:12,960 interests than Gibson's has because we've got actually three routes that we 958 02:49:10,240 --> 02:49:19,520 depend on for any kind of transportation and any kind of highway to anywhere 959 02:49:15,520 --> 02:49:23,520 except our own city in Gary and I think we should deal with that. 960 02:49:21,200 --> 02:49:29,439 you know, we're talking about the the reservation system and, you know, I 961 02:49:26,800 --> 02:49:33,760 personally I don't I don't see a a benefit in adjusting the reservation 962 02:49:31,600 --> 02:49:38,319 system. I think it's more of an added problem than it is a solution and I 963 02:49:36,640 --> 02:49:41,840 don't think it's helped anybody and it's just confused things. But I would like 964 02:49:40,160 --> 02:49:46,640 the mayor to write a letter to those ministers, point out that we're unhappy 965 02:49:44,160 --> 02:49:53,120 with the situation and asks that all three of the roots uh that we're looking 966 02:49:49,279 --> 02:50:00,240 at and depend on here be be uh considered in the performance term seven 967 02:49:56,479 --> 02:50:05,680 evaluation that they say they're doing. >> Great. Any further discussion on the 968 02:50:02,479 --> 02:50:12,720 motion? Councelor Palm. Yes, I I second councelor Doubt's motion and um we'll 969 02:50:09,439 --> 02:50:18,319 just add that the bottom line on the Gibson's letter as an ask of 970 02:50:15,920 --> 02:50:26,399 face-to-face communication with members of the BC Ferry staff in their uh 971 02:50:22,640 --> 02:50:33,120 jurisdiction, not on a screen like as what has recently transpired here where 972 02:50:30,240 --> 02:50:39,359 that ask was made and there was no follow through um that's a shame. Uh 973 02:50:37,040 --> 02:50:43,200 they need to come and face the music. Thank you, your worship. It's 974 02:50:41,120 --> 02:50:46,160 » through our CEO. You had a >> uh Thank you, your worship. I just 975 02:50:44,640 --> 02:50:49,680 wanted to clarify that we had got the motion correct. Um councelor Doubt, 976 02:50:48,240 --> 02:50:53,640 could you please just confirm if we're missing anything on that? 977 02:50:57,439 --> 02:51:04,720 Yeah, I just I'd like to add the root numbers in, but I don't have uh the 978 02:51:01,680 --> 02:51:09,760 three root numbers all memorized. I'm sure we could find them online. I 979 02:51:06,640 --> 02:51:12,537 bet counselor's got it right in front of them. [laughter] 980 02:51:13,359 --> 02:51:21,000 » 17 is to Comox and Route 7 is Salt Tree Bay, I believe. 981 02:51:21,279 --> 02:51:25,359 » Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. I I I seem to remember 982 02:51:23,920 --> 02:51:29,760 additional words at the end of councelor Doubt's motion. It's um in the leadup to 983 02:51:27,920 --> 02:51:33,439 performance term 7. I think you had referenced that 984 02:51:31,359 --> 02:51:36,920 » uh beginning April 1, 2028. >> Yeah. 985 02:51:33,920 --> 02:51:36,920 » Yeah. 986 02:51:37,120 --> 02:51:43,840 » Okay. >> Um so if I could speak to the motion, I 987 02:51:40,160 --> 02:51:47,439 I um as we all have heard many uh frustrations with the changes to the 988 02:51:45,840 --> 02:51:51,680 ferry service, the reservation system, the prices um and so many of those 989 02:51:50,000 --> 02:51:55,840 concerns are very valid. it's impacting people's ability to uh travel freely 990 02:51:53,840 --> 02:51:59,760 around the province. I did want to add to the conversation though because I've 991 02:51:57,680 --> 02:52:04,000 actually heard a lot of appreciation from young families for the new system 992 02:52:01,920 --> 02:52:08,000 because many of the routes are much cheaper uh and they're able to plan 993 02:52:06,240 --> 02:52:11,359 their summer holidays, their their precious summer holidays with their 994 02:52:09,439 --> 02:52:16,479 children to go away to visit family. And so the booking um on non high demand 995 02:52:14,800 --> 02:52:20,800 routes are actually substantially cheaper when you're traveling with 996 02:52:17,840 --> 02:52:24,160 children. And um and so It's more there's more to it than that. 997 02:52:22,479 --> 02:52:28,640 There are many uh frustrations that are very valid, but that's not the whole 998 02:52:25,920 --> 02:52:31,760 story. Uh I've heard from many young parents how it's it's been lovely for 999 02:52:30,720 --> 02:52:36,720 their summer planning [clears throat] and uh and their wallets. Thank you. 1000 02:52:34,720 --> 02:52:41,439 » Great. Council Aita. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um I'm totally in 1001 02:52:38,960 --> 02:52:45,600 favor with this letter and um Oh, there's a small typo on horseshoe. There 1002 02:52:42,880 --> 02:52:50,960 we go. Um, and I agree conversations need to be have had to improve our 1003 02:52:48,800 --> 02:52:55,600 system, whether it's for the quantity of boats or the size of the boats or the 1004 02:52:53,120 --> 02:53:01,120 frequency of the routes and stuff. Um, last year at UBCM, um, the CEO and a few 1005 02:52:59,439 --> 02:53:06,479 other executives from BC Fairies was there in person. I was actually quite 1006 02:53:03,359 --> 02:53:10,960 surprised how few um, counselors were actually at that session. Uh but that 1007 02:53:08,800 --> 02:53:13,760 gave me a chance to to ask some questions and one of those questions 1008 02:53:12,479 --> 02:53:17,920 seemed to have led to a change. I don't know if I was fully responsible for it 1009 02:53:15,120 --> 02:53:23,359 or not, but um I'll take some credit. Um but to comment on um some of what 1010 02:53:20,880 --> 02:53:27,760 council Isacson said, being a family of four little ones, um I can understand 1011 02:53:26,399 --> 02:53:33,279 some of the frustrations that the community has had with uh reservations 1012 02:53:30,399 --> 02:53:39,279 for those that uh don't have a credit card or easy access to a computer. um it 1013 02:53:36,640 --> 02:53:43,680 can be a little bit more challenging. Um but for those that have been planning 1014 02:53:41,439 --> 02:53:49,600 trips, I I can show physical evidence just from this past couple weeks. Um the 1015 02:53:47,279 --> 02:53:54,160 the difference it can make with uh with reservation. In fact, just um as we were 1016 02:53:52,399 --> 02:54:00,399 having this conversation looking at a ferry reservation for September, uh a 1017 02:53:57,279 --> 02:54:08,800 round trip for one person if reserved is $80. Uh that's for a round trip. Um, and 1018 02:54:04,080 --> 02:54:14,160 I paid $75 for one way um, in June. So, I also believe I I could be wrong on 1019 02:54:10,800 --> 02:54:19,120 this. I I went back and read the the memo that BC Fairies brought in May when 1020 02:54:16,800 --> 02:54:24,240 they brought the new system in. I have a feeling I'm I'm not 100% certain uh cuz 1021 02:54:22,319 --> 02:54:28,880 I'll be honest, BC Fairies is not great at communication. So, we definitely need 1022 02:54:25,760 --> 02:54:34,479 a face toface meeting. Uh but I believe um that from that uh press release in 1023 02:54:31,359 --> 02:54:39,600 May, this current system actually might just be a temporary um uh thing for the 1024 02:54:38,319 --> 02:54:46,080 summer. I think it was only supposed to go to mid-occtober. Um and so um from my 1025 02:54:43,840 --> 02:54:51,520 understanding they were evaluating how they can relieve pressure on the middle 1026 02:54:48,479 --> 02:54:57,279 routes of the day by offering advantages to uh travel on the um on the morning 1027 02:54:54,880 --> 02:55:01,680 and evening fairies. And uh when I last came across uh last week, um I had a 1028 02:55:00,399 --> 02:55:11,120 chance to speak to one of the staff members at the booth um who um um 1029 02:55:08,240 --> 02:55:15,279 agreed to my stance there that uh the the afternoon sailings due to some of 1030 02:55:13,600 --> 02:55:20,399 the prepaides and the and the saver fairs was definitely uh a lot less 1031 02:55:17,760 --> 02:55:24,720 congestion at the ferry terminal. Um and I think that's what BC Fairies was 1032 02:55:22,319 --> 02:55:29,680 doing. Is there many places to improve for certain? Um and as as councilors and 1033 02:55:27,520 --> 02:55:35,040 the future council, uh that's what we need to advocate for. Um but I I think 1034 02:55:32,399 --> 02:55:40,000 BC Fairies was attempting to try some different things to reduce congestion. 1035 02:55:36,880 --> 02:55:43,680 Uh obviously room for growth. Um but I I can comment it definitely wasn't a cash 1036 02:55:42,240 --> 02:55:47,439 grab. So I'll be in favor of this though. 1037 02:55:44,720 --> 02:55:52,800 » Okay, we have a motion. Going to call it. All in favor? 1038 02:55:49,920 --> 02:55:59,359 Motion passes unanimously. We'll now move to public clarification. 1039 02:55:55,920 --> 02:56:04,160 and subject to rules of conduct. Members of the public may ask questions to 1040 02:56:01,279 --> 02:56:14,359 clarify items discussed during the meeting for a maximum of two minutes. 1041 02:56:09,359 --> 02:56:14,359 Does anybody wish to come forward? 1042 02:56:19,279 --> 02:56:24,200 Mr. Galinski, do you have a question? 1043 02:56:26,240 --> 02:56:33,840 you very much. Do we have anybody online? 1044 02:56:30,399 --> 02:56:38,399 No. Well, then I'm I'm going to move adjournment of the meeting. Thank you 1045 02:56:35,600 --> 02:56:38,399 very much for coming