Watch City Council meetings live or view recordings at www.campbellriver.ca/webcasts.

The City of Campbell River acknowledges that we are on the territory of the Laich-Kwil-Tach people of the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations.

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

2023 Annual Report

Council approved the City’s 2023 Annual Report as presented. The report offers an overview of City activities, including financial statements, department overviews, and a year-in-review, which highlights the progress made towards Council’s 2023 to 2026 Strategic Plan in 2023. The year-end results demonstrate that the City’s financial position continues to increase with a focus on maintaining the delivery of over 100 services to a growing community, enhancing services and amenities, and investment in infrastructure through tax and user fee increases.

The City is required to publish an annual report by June 30 after making it available to the public for comments. The City published a draft of the 2023 Annual Report on June 12, 2024, and the required statutory notifications were provided.

The 2023 Annual Report, alongside archived editions, is available online at www.campbellriver.ca/annual-report.

FINANCE UPDATE

Grant for the Campbell River Farmers Market Society

Following a request from the Campbell River Farmers Market Society, Council approved a $5,000 grant to the society to support vendor development (under the Hatch and Hype program) and a coordinator for children’s activities in 2024. The grant will be funded from Operating Projects—Operating Grants. Council also approved renting Spirit Square to the society for $39 for 2024; the forgone revenue of $780 due to this lower rate will be funded from Council Contingency.

LONG RANGE PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE

Recycling, Organics and Garbage Regulations Bylaw and Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Amendments

Council adopted the Recycling, Organics and Garbage Regulations Bylaw No. 3950, 2024, and Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Amendment Bylaw No. 3962, 2024. As recommended by the BC Conservation Office, the amendments align the City’s bylaw with the Wildlife Act, and aim to reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife by:

• Restricting the curbside placement of garbage, recycling and food waste to the day of collection
• Prohibiting garbage from being put out the evening before collection
• Requiring owners to take reasonable steps to secure and store garbage, recyclables and food waste

Requiring that when pick-ups are missed, full containers are brought back from the curbside by 8 p.m. that day

The City’s primary approach to resolve bylaw contraventions will be education and outreach, with educational support from the provincial Conservation Officer Service and Wild Wise Campbell River.

Community Beautification Grants Program

Council approved three 2024 Partnering Agreements for the City’s Community Beautification Grants Program. The agreements enable the City to provide funding to the Campbellton Neighbourhood Association, Campbell River Downtown Business Improvement Association and Willow Point Business Improvement Area Society to revitalize public spaces. Previous initiatives funded through this program include installing banners and wayfinding signage, public art wraps on utility boxes, decorative light features, flower boxes and baskets, street cleanup and litter abatement, and event programming. Applicants to the Community Beautification Grants Program may be eligible for up to $10,000 in beautification funding provided that matching dollars and in-kind contributions are contributed by the applicant towards total annual project costs.

BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement
Council endorsed the 2024/2025 BC Transit Annual Operating Agreement provided as part of their partnership with the City. This agreement formalizes the operation of transit services for Campbell River and Area D of the Strathcona Regional District and guides the development of the operations budget. Council was also advised that BC Transit, in partnership with the City, will be bringing forward a presentation in July to update Council on the Transit Future Action Plan which is intended to identify transit service improvements and infrastructure improvements over the next five years.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES UPDATE
Development Applications Procedures and Delegations Bylaw
Council gave first, second and third readings to Development Applications Procedures and Delegation Bylaw 3955, 2024, which contains proposed changes intended to make the bylaw clearer and more consistent. The proposed changes include clarifying new fees, adding a fee for property records requests and delegating minor variances to staff. Proposed changes are outlined in the Report to Council included on the June 25, 2024, Committee of the Whole Meeting agenda, available at campbellriver.civicweb.net. Copies of the draft bylaw were provided to members of the development industry for review ahead of the Council meeting. Received letters of support were considered by Council. 

Rezoning Application for 138 Dogwood Street

Council gave first, second and third readings to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3963, 2024, which proposes a site-specific map amendment to rezone the property at 138 Dogwood Street from Residential Infill (R-I) to Commercial Two (C-2). The rezoning is proposed to support a future Development Permit for the construction of a four-storey building consisting of 15 two-bedroom residential units with commercial space on the ground floor. The proposed amendment is consistent with the City’s Official Community Plan. The required statutory notifications were provided.

CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE

Airport Lighting Project Budget

Council approved increasing the Air Lighting, Visual Aids, and Taxiway Rehabilitation project budget by $191,533, with funding from the Capital Works Reserve. This funding will be used to address required follow-up maintenance.

Work has been underway to modernize and rehabilitate infrastructure at the City of Campbell River Airport (YBL) since 2021. In 2021, the federal government awarded $4,329,847 towards the project through the Airport Capital Assistance Program and the City contributed $801,543. When the project was tendered in 2022, construction prices had increased significantly. The Federal Government increased their contribution by approximately 67 per cent, to $7,212,602, with no change to the City’s portion of the budget. The construction phase of the project is now complete and the maintenance period has commenced.

CORRESPONDENCE

Request to Support Vital Signs 2024

Council received a request from Michaela Arruda, Executive Director, Campbell River Community Foundation, for funding support for Vital Signs 2024, and approved up to $15,000. Vital Signs uses community-driven data to present a snapshot of the region’s vitality, needs and opportunities. The Campbell River Community Foundation expects to launch the 2024 Vital Signs report in October 2024.

Request to Increase Downtown Parking Time Limit

Council received a request from Heather Gordon Murphy, Chair, Campbell River Downtown BIA, requesting that the downtown parking limit be increased from one hour to two hours. Council directed staff to report back on the viability of increasing downtown parking from one to two hours.

Request for A Letter of Support for Island West Fashion Works

Council received correspondence from Emily Marshall, Owner/Director, Island West Fashion Works Incorporated, requesting a letter of support for a grant application. Island West Fashion Works and its partners BC Apparel & Gear Association and BC Manufacturing Alliance are applying for a WorkBC Community Workforce Response Grant to fund their Apparel & Gear Manufacturing Training Program. Council directed staff to prepare a letter of support.

City of Kamloops regarding financial impacts of higher-level government policy change

Council received correspondence from Councillor Katie Neustaeter, Deputy Mayor, City of Kamloops, regarding the financial impacts of higher-level government policy change, and directed staff to send a letter of support.

HIGHLIGHTS of JUNE 27 2024 COUNCIL MEETING - NEWS RELEASE