HIGHLIGHTS of JUNE 13 2022 COUNCIL MEETINGWatch City Council meetings live or view recordings at www.campbellriver.ca/webcasts.
We acknowledge we are on the territory of the Laich-Kwil-Tach people of the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations.
DELEGATIONS
Phoenix Active School Travel Program Delegation
Sarah Wright and Phoenix Middle School students presented to Council regarding the Phoenix Active School Travel program. The program collected data on current levels and barriers to active transportation for students. The group made recommendations to Council to improve safety, which Council referred to staff for inclusion in the Master Transportation Plan update and to the SD72 Council Liaison meeting.
COMMUNITY SAFETY
Ticketing for Temporary Shelters in Parks
Council gave the Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Amendment Bylaw No. 3871 first, second and third reading. If adopted, Bylaw Enforcement and RCMP will have the ability to issue fines if needed with regards to where, when and how people can erect temporary shelters; particularly in Nunn’s Creek Park.
Social Services regulations through Zoning Bylaw Amendment
The City is exploring changes to how social services are regulated. Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3861 looks to help address complex societal challenges surrounding poverty, mental health and substance use that the City, alongside many other BC and Canadian municipalities, face. On June 13, 2022, Council gave second reading to the Bylaw and scheduled a Public Hearing for June 29, 2022. For more information on the project and the proposed Bylaw, visit www.campbellriver.ca/downtown.
ELECTIONS
Voting by mail and appointment of Election Officers
Council gave first, second and third readings to the Local Government Election Amendment Bylaw No. 3868, 2022, which if approved, would allow any eligible elector to vote by mail.
Council appointed Elle Brovold as the Chief Election Officer and Lynsey Daur as the Deputy Chief Election Officer for the City of Campbell River’s 2022 Local Election, which takes place Saturday, October 15, 2022.
FINANCIAL UPDATES
Airport Revitalization Tax Exemption Program
Council gave the amended Airport Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 3865, 2022 third reading. A minor amendment was approved to clarify the exemption would apply to new buildings and additions/improvements to existing buildings. If adopted, this would establish a 5-year tax exemption program for A-1 and A-2 lands.
Quarterly Financial Report for Q1 2022
Council received the Quarterly Financial Report – Q1, 2022 for information.
Campbell River & District Adult Care Society Donation
Council approved a donation to the Campbell River & District Adult Care Society in the amount of $4,000 from the Council Contingency Fund. The society supports adults over 19 with chronic health problems (all complex health-care problems) and seniors in the community.
Financial Big Rocks Identified
Council received a report during the May 10 Committee of the Whole meeting regarding increasing pressures the City is facing to maintain current service levels and base operations while striving to meet the community’s growing needs and keep tax increases low. An integral part of long-term financial planning is being proactive and strategic in mitigating known ‘Big Rocks’ or financial impacts on the City’s budget. The report identified several ‘Big Rocks’ that the City can strategically plan for and phasing into the budget to promote stability to City finances and operations. Balancing the need to maintain existing services with low tax increases will be challenging for 2023 Financial Planning, given current cost pressures resulting from the pandemic and other external influences.
Remaining COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant Funds Reserved
Council carried a motion to reserve the remaining COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant funds without further expenditure in 2022, and any further expenditure of the COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant funds will be referred to 2023-2032 Financial Planning deliberations.
DEVELOPMENT
Jubilee Parkway Development
A Development Variance Permit was approved to vary the rear yard setback required by the Zoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006 for proposed lots 7-16, located at 0 Jubilee Parkway.
Steep Slopes Official Community Plan Amendment
Council received the Final Public and Stakeholder Engagement Summary for the proposed amendments to the Official Community Plan Development Permit Area (DPA) for Hazard Conditions (Steep Slopes) and directed staff to schedule a public hearing on July 6, 2022. The report summarizes engagements, discusses key themes heard, and presents a table of revisions to the DPA guideline and exemptions content. The proposed DPA amendments are important to improve human safety and reduce the risk of landslides.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
Downtown Small Initiatives Program Update
Council received a report from the Long Range Planning & Sustainability Department regarding the Downtown Small Initiatives Program. The program was introduced in 2016 to animate and revitalize public spaces through a series of annual quick-to-complete projects within the downtown. Operating under the Refresh Downtown strategy, the program spans the four downtown districts and forms an essential component of the City’s continued downtown revitalization efforts.
Hilchey Road Bike Lanes: New Proposed Design
Council supported a modified design for Hilchey Road bike lanes as recommended in a report from staff.
The suggested modifications include:
- Removing parking on one side of the street to accommodate two bike lanes. One side of Hilchey Road will have both a parking and bike lane. The recommendation places the bike lane next to the curb, and the parking lane will protect the bike lane from the travel lane.
- Keeping parking on the south side of Hilchey Road from South Alder Street to Highway 19A and on the north side from South Alder Street to South Dogwood Street, as recommended by staff.
- Adding bollards at the start and end of each block on the side with parking to further protect cyclists and to avoid vehicle conflicts at intersections.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ACTIVITY UPDATE
Received by Council during the June 14 Committee of the Whole meeting
Since the last report was provided to Council on May 10, 2022, there have been:
- 10 new applications received
- 11 applications completed
Currently, there are 86 active files. Of those files:
- 41 require action from the applicant
- 43 require action from the City
- 2 require action from the Province
Of the 86 active files there are:
- 30 Fee simple subdivisions
- 8 Bare land strata subdivisions
- 2 Temporary use permits
- 15 Zoning Bylaw amendments
- 1 Combined OCP and Zoning Bylaw amendments
- 7 Major Development Permits
- 1 Major Development Permit Amendment
- 3 Major Development with Variance Permit
- 11 Minor Development Permits
- 1 Minor Development Permit amendment
- 4 Development Variance Permits
- 3 Board of Variance Permits