Council In Focus

Action-packed June meeting approves grants, filming and more

The public portion of the regular council meeting on June 18 opened on a quiet note with Councillors Neville Abbott and Michael Broughton remembering long-time resident Louis Peterson, who recently passed away. Peterson was one of the pioneers of the Village, moving to Lions Bay in 1967, and has been a force for good for 50 years.

Abbott said that Council had honoured Louis Peterson as citizen of the year in 2019, and said he had offered Abbott a lot of wise advice on Council and Village matters over the years. Peterson was an Alderman on the very first Village Council.

This final meeting before the swearing in of a new Councillor had a packed agenda, addressing a variety of topics.

After making a few minor corrections, Council approved minutes from the Council meeting on May 20, and from the special meeting of Council on June 11.

Grants Approved

Municipal Accountant Karen Jeffery presented a report (page 18) outlining the local community groups who applied for 'grant-in-aid' applications. Each year these grants are awarded as a combination of cash and services-in-lieu, (such as rental of the Village Hall or staff time). Jeffrey reported that 11 applications totalling nearly $11,000 in cash support, and approximately $6,500 in-kind were received this year.

The groups included Lions Bay Arts, Scholarship Committee, Historical Society, Senior's Circle, Trailblazers, Bird Friendly, Caroling, Garden Group, Bear Smart, Events Committee and Lions Bay Fire Rescue.

Jeffery reported that the application process is currently being streamlined, with a goal of making it fully online. Subsequent discussion included structuring separate tiers or systems to make the process easier for those groups just asking for in-kind support, or those groups who re-apply every year. Abbott also pointed out the importance of community groups not carrying a balance, instead aiming to break even each year.

After discussion, all 11 applications were approved by Council.

Film Permit

Following information received at a special meeting last Wednesday, Council approved a permit for the filming of a reality television series to be filmed at the Mailey/Rogers residence on Tidewater Way (page 72), from August 24 through September 15. Council also approved the rental of up to 10 parking spots for the use of the production team during the shoot at Kelvin Grove beach.

Initially, staff Film Liaison Karen Jeffery had appeared back at the May regular Council meeting to introduce the potential for the filming of a reality series at a home in Brunswick Beach. However, a location change became evident at last Wednesday's special meeting. At that meeting, long-time resident Victoria Rogers, along with members of the of Blink 49 Studios production team, appeared as delegations before Council. Rogers made a case for the filming to take place in her home on Tidewater, and added that she was pursuing the possibility of a $100,000 donation contributed by the film company and the Rogers/Mailey family to the Village.

Will Erb (Executive Vice President, Unscripted Television) and Toby Dormer (Executive Vice President, Global Unscripted Television) of Blink 49 Studios also spoke at the special meeting. Both men indicated that plans are in place to minimize the impact on neighbours, and that the non-union production would be open to hiring locals. Jeffery said she would facilitate this process.

While the majority of the discussion took place at last Wednesday's meeting, prior to the decision to approve the permit, Council members also confirmed that filming would not take place over the September long weekend, nor impact the upcoming O'Dwyer family wedding, also set to take place in August.

Bylaw Report

Bylaw Officer Taj Bindra presented a report (page 83) outlining a recap of bylaw enforcement issues and complaints from January to April of this year. The number of complaints addressed included 22 noise control complaints, 13 regarding the collection of garbage and recycling, 11 about traffic or parking, seven dealing with animal control issues, and four addressing tree bylaw complaints.

Bindra noted that 102 violation tickets were issued. Violations primarily involved visitors who had failed to pay for parking or parked in a designated area without an annual permit. He said about 1200 warning letters for outstanding parking fines were also issued by bylaw staff.

Abbott noted that the high number of uncollected violations represented more than $100,000 in revenue, and asked staff to report back regarding whose job it is to send out these notices and ensure the funds are collected.

Broughton said that a larger discussion is warranted to address parking fines rates, and how much education should play a part in the process. Councillor Jaime Cunliffe said she disagrees with reduction of fines as they are in line with what other municipalities charge, but agreed there is room for discussion to ensure that visitors are welcomed to this community safely and without frustration.

After the meeting, Bindra clarified to The Watershed that delinquent violation notices are passed onto the Village's collections agency, who then will work with ICBC to secure the outstanding notices at the time of insurance renewal.

Chief Election Officer Byelection Report

Chief Election Officer Lisa Zwarn submitted a report (page 86) summing up the results of the recent byelection. She said that according to the provincial list, there are 1,088 registered voters in Lions Bay.

Zwarn reported that on the afternoon of the final day for submission of nomination papers, she fielded an inquiry about how to submit nomination papers, and that later that afternoon an unnamed individual did indeed submit incomplete nomination papers, less than 30 minutes before the deadline. She noted that a legal opinion was sought to confirm the position taken by the Chief Election Officer, which was to decline the nomination papers. As a result, former Mayor Ron McLaughlin was acclaimed to the position of Councillor.

Zwarn also noted that the province has "recognized the challenges facing local governments when using print media to provide official public notice", and in 2022 amended the Community Charter to enable local governments to choose alternative means of providing such notice. She therefore recommended that Council enact a public notice bylaw in order to use these alternative means, in addition to those indicated for the public notice posting in the Council Procedure Bylaw. Deputy Corporate Officer Kristal Kenna said that a bylaw is in the process of being drafted.

Fire Department Review

CAO Ross Blackwell was not present at the meeting, but submitted a report (page 100) recommending a comprehensive, third-party service review of Lions Bay Fire Rescue (LBFR), in light of the current absence of a Fire Chief.

He recommended Council direct staff to retain a qualified consultant to undertake a comprehensive organizational review of LBFR and report back the detailed scope, budget, and timeline for the proposed work. He anticipated a cost somewhere around $25-30,000 for the review, and reminded Council of the liabilities to the municipality, "particularly if deficiencies contribute to harm during an emergency." He also noted that unaddressed gaps in occupational health and safety compliance could result in WorkSafeBC orders or sanctions.

All members of Council appeared to agree that a review is timely and necessary. Abbott suggested that whoever completes the review should begin by putting a short-term interim plan in place to find an acting Fire Chief while the more comprehensive review is being organized. The motion carried unanimously.

Correspondence

• General correspondence begins on page 105 with a letter from Barry Pages, Chair of the North Coast Regional District with regard to increasing natural gas rates.

• A letter from the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA, page 106) noted that the resolution submitted by Lions Bay Council regarding regional Emergency Management was endorsed by the LMLGA, and will therefore be included in the book of resolutions submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities convention this fall.

• Lions Bay Bird Friendly offered their thanks to Council (page 108) for the confirmation of official Village Bird status to the Anna's Hummingbird.

• The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, (page 112) asked Council to consider proposed changes to closed meeting provisions, which are outlined in a letter marked 'confidential', beginning on page 109.

• Louise Pederson, Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, shared a new guidebook for rural communities on the topic of Outdoor Recreation for Community and Economic Development.

• A letter from Chair Mike Hurley of Metro Vancouver (page 118) introduced their new Housing Data Book for 2025. Ravi Kahon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs (page 120) wrote on the topic of Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing in BC municipalities.

• The Village of Chase (page 125) advocated for increased funding for public education.

• Finally, a letter from the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon (page 122) requested the Village make a proclamation for National Drowning Prevention Week. Cunliffe moved that this proclamation be supported by Council, and the motion carried.

The sole resident correspondent was former Councillor Norm Barmeier, who wrote to ask if Council would consider renting porta-potties, as the beach has been packed with visitors, and there are no working bathroom or shower facilities. (page 127).

Cunliffe noted that the increased number of whale sightings had brought many visitors to our beach. She thanked Public Works for addressing the problem in the short term, and said she looked forward to improved facilities in the future with the completion of Beach Park improvements.

Public Participation

Resident Deirdre Bain, the lone member of the in-person gallery, asked how much the new truck cost the Village. Abbott asked staff to report back.

Other Matters

In the absence of a Fire Chief, Council passed a motion to direct staff to change the Fire Risk signs to reflect the current BC Wildfire ratings.

Financial Officer Joe Chirkoff offered Council an update on year-to-date financials, beginning on page 89.

Abbott noted that the May 20 meeting minutes reflected a discussion that left-over Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) money could be directed to cover extra costs of any new vehicles purchased to ensure vehicles were electric or hybrid. He noted that shortly afterwards, the Village bought a conventional gasoline-powered Ford F-150 for bylaw officer use. He asked that staff go back and check the language, and ensure that in future, electric or hybrid vehicles are considered.

Broughton said he supported the purchase of electric vehicles but said his understanding was that a vehicle was needed to also use as back-up for Public Works. Abbott reminded Council that electric pick-up trucks are available.

The meeting closed less than 70 minutes after it began. The swearing-in of Councillor-Elect Ron McLaughlin is currently scheduled to occur at the special meeting on June 24 at 6 p.m.

Following the June 23 meeting, the next Council meeting is a Committee of the Whole set for July 8 at 7 p.m, with the final regular Council meeting of the summer scheduled for July 22 at 7 p.m.

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