December 2 Council In Focus

Climate Action Committee marks significant progress

On this gorgeous December evening, all members of Council members were present in person, except Councillor Jaime Cunliffe who attended online. The gallery held 11 residents, attending both in person and on line.

Mayor Ken Berry began the meeting by saying he had nothing to report from the closed portion of the meeting, but that Council had a plan to resume the closed session after completion of the regular meeting.

After a few minor tweaks, including Berry once again exercising his Mayoral prerogative to return a defeated motion before Council for reconsideration, the evening's agenda was adopted. Minutes from regular Council meetings on November 4 and 18, and the special Council meeting on November 20 were adopted with a few minor changes.

Unfinished Business: bylaws adopted, financial plan given third reading

Both Zoning and Development bylaw amendments that were subject to public hearings last month came forward for adoption. These amendments, addressing short term rentals (No.641) and setbacks (No. 650), have been subject to extensive discussion both at the Council table and public consultation. The report offered by CAO Ross Blackwell (beginning on page 24) on the topic of short-term rentals includes resident feedback from the public hearings, along with letters written by concerned residents. After discussion the bylaw was adopted. Blackwell's report on the topic of setbacks begins on page 42, and this bylaw also passed.

According to the Community Charter, Council must adopt a five-year financial plan bylaw every year before adopting the tax rate bylaw and prior to May 15. Financial Officer Joe Chirkoff presented the Five-Year Financial Plan bylaw (page 46) for third reading, which was granted. Blackwell said this allows staff to get a jumpstart on planning projects for 2026, but as it is only third reading, it's subject to change before the final reading next April.

Grant Funding Question

Blackwell presented an update regarding Capacity Funding for Local Government Housing Initiatives that was sent out by the province in in September 2025 (page 54).

He reminded Council that Lions Bay received a grant for just under $156,000 in January 2024, and noted that Official Community Plan work fits under this umbrella. He said he was seeking direction from Council for the use of these funds. Councillor Neville Abbott pointed to the list on page 55 of the agenda as possible uses for these funds. Council voted to ask staff to report back with a list of possibilities in January.

A slew of staff reports on EVs, strategic planning and more

• Blackwell presented an assessment of the viability of incorporating electric vehicles (EVs) into the municipal fleet (page 61). His reticence over the topic was apparent, and he cautioned Council that while he was open to the introduction of EVs, it is a staff decision where the vehicles would be put to use. The topic was also addressed in a report from the Climate Action Committee (CAC) that was delivered later in the evening. After discussion, Abbott suggested setting up a future special meeting with the CAC to garner more detail on the topic. A motion to direct staff to set up a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting for further discussion with CAC representatives carried.

• Blackwell then recommended Council adopt the 2025-2026 Strategic Priorities Plan (page 65). This plan is the result of a strategic priorities meeting that was held on November 20, but was closed to the public. After noting a few corrections, Council adopted the plan.

• The recently updated Fees Bylaw (page 78) was introduced. Discussion topics included the complexity of setting rates for residents and non-residents. The bylaw was ultimately given first, second and third reading.

• There followed a report on the development of an Active Transportation (AT) Network Plan for the Village of Lions Bay (page 110), which includes an assessment of non-driving options within the municipality. Blackwell noted that if this planning is undertaken, costs could be partially funded through a TransLink grant. Council agreed to direct staff to initiate the an AT plan, as well as applying for the TransLink funding, before reporting back.

• Following a request from Council in November, Blackwell presented an overview of the importance of Municipal Planning (page 113). This substantial report addressed planning as it pertains to the Official Community Plan, zoning bylaws, subdivision servicing bylaws and other elements of development. Abbott suggested a workshop for Council on this broad-based topic, and Blackwell agreed to set one up.

• A draft of the 2024 Annual Report (page 136) was presented for information.  "We're back in the saddle," said Blackwell, noting that for the first time in this Council's mandate the annual report will be submitted on time, and that he expects the same for the 2025 report. A few necessary corrections were discussed before Council accepted the report for information.

Climate Action Committee Reports on Successful Year

Councillor Abbott presented a draft version of the Climate Action Committee's Year in Review (page 202) for information. The report notes a number of substantive successes over the past year for the committee, including a complete overhaul of the heating system of the Village Hall, support for the incoming water metering system and the creation of the Community Recycling Centre at the Works Yard. Councillor Ron McLaughlin congratulated the "very impressive team on the very impressive number of deliveries they've done." A more substantive look at this report and at the committee itself can be found HERE.

Closed Meeting Motions

A pair of motions were presented on-table at the meeting, meaning that the wording of neither motion was included in the evening's minutes.

Abbott brought forward a motion that Council direct the CAO and the Mayor to disclose closed meeting records to all Council members, including agenda packages, reports and minutes, as well as correspondence arising from closed meeting decisions. He declined to offer any further information, and asked that a vote be called.

Blackwell noted that this is standard practice and that if any questions arise regarding the legality of sharing information, he would seek guidance from the municipality's legal representatives. The motion carried.

Third time was the charm for Berry, who exercised his Mayoral prerogative to return a twice-defeated motion for reconsideration. The motion directed staff to conduct a 30-day rolling review of minutes and reports from closed meetings and bring forward items for public release (with redactions, where lawful) once confidentiality is no longer required. The motion carried.

Correspondence

Public correspondence (beginning on page 207) opened with a letter from Lorraine Copas, Executive Director of the Social Planning and Research Council of BC regarding Accessible Parking Awareness Month.

Others included:

• George Anderson, MLA of Nanaimo-Lantzville, regarding of purview regarding his recently-tabled private members bill in the BC Legislature, the Professional Reliance Act (page 209).

• Natalie Groulx, the Acting Conservation Director of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, asking for Council's support of the BC Coastal Marine Strategy (page 221). Abbott said he would take this topic to CAC for further study.

• Philip Perras of Pender Island, on the need for systemic accountability and the removal of toxic leadership in local governments (page 226).

• Mike Hurley, Metro Vancouver Chair, regarding the recent Affordable Housing Gap Analysis (page 232), and also regarding a proposed Surrey bylaw amendment expanding the Urban Containment Boundary (page 235).

• Nakusp Councillor Aidan McLaren-Caux, offering support from the UBCM Small Communities committee (page 234).

• Letters from Pitt Meadows Mayor Nicole McDonald (page 237) and Mayor Sid Tobias of View Royal, (page 242) both expressing concern over the Professional Reliance Act.

There was no Resident Correspondence presented at this meeting.

Public Questions & Comments

Before the meeting closed, former Councillor and CAC committee member Norm Barmeier informed Council that the Federation of Canada Municipalities (FMC) is now open to supporting municipalities' fleet transition through two funding streams:

The first is a fleet transition study which looks at the life cycle of vehicles and compares operational and capital costs. This funding will cover up to 80% of study costs up to $200,000.

The second is direct capital funding of both vehicles and chargers. Again, depending on the size of the community, they will fund 80% of a capital project, including charging infrastructure and fleet vehicles up to $10 million.

Barmeier noted a key point is that the FMC will fund a variety of alternatives, including battery electric vehicles, plug in hybrids, and hydrogen electric vehicles. 

After Barmeier spoke, the decision was made for Council members to return to a closed session and the open part of the meeting adjourned.

After the second closed session, the Mayor once again declined to report any information to the public, and the meeting adjourned.

Please note that to accommodate the holiday season, the next regular meeting of Council is scheduled for next Tuesday, December 9, with the open portion of the meeting beginning at 7 p.m.

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