June 2 Council In Focus

Clear-cut concerns continue

All members of Council were present in person for Tuesday's Council meeting, with Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell joining the table.

After a heated discussion before the meeting began regarding which items would be included in the agenda, Council moved into a closed session.

When Council returned to an open session, Mayor Ken Berry announced that Council had endorsed the Lions Bay Arts Council's choice of art wrap for the Beach Park washrooms, and that the design will be announced sometime in the next few weeks.

As the regular meeting began, the evening's agenda was quickly adopted. The online gallery hovered around 13 members throughout the evening, with five residents attending in person.

Petition presented to Council

Long-time Kelvin Grove resident Rod Baker stepped forward in the Public Participation segment, speaking on behalf of Hanna Bartholomew. Bartholomew's property abuts 250 Oceanview Road, and she has gathered the names of 44 residents in a petition objecting to the clear-cutting of the property at that address.

Baker said that the petition's undersigned "are gravely concerned by the rapid and extensive environmental destruction occurring due to the development activities," occurring at the site. They contend that the removal of more than 200 trees, including Red Cedar and Douglas Fir "constitutes a catastrophic loss of natural infrastructure," which compromises the slope stability of the land and increases the risk of landslides that threaten the safety of neighbouring properties and residents. They cite procedural deficiencies in the approval process for this project, noting that there were no submissions of geotechnical or environmental reports and the failure to secure mandatory assessments from a qualified environmental professional.

The petitioners cited scientific evidence that this type of tree clearing can be a catalyst for geotechnical instability, as well as a legal precedent from 1989 holding a municipality liable for negligent oversight of hazardous terrain. The petition demanded:

• An immediate stop-work order on further clearing, excavation, and construction activities at 250 Oceanview Road.

• An immediate review of project permits to ensure full compliance with Bylaw 393-2007 (Tree Removal) and OCP Bylaw 525-2018.

• Mandated submission of comprehensive and professionally verified geotechnical and environmental reports,

• A denial of building permits for building of roads or structures on the property, or subdivision of the property

• Reforestation of the clear-cut slope.

Blackwell accepted the petition and accompanying materials.

Later in the meeting Councillor Neville Abbott asked Blackwell about next steps with regard to the petition. Blackwell said that there currently is no municipal legislation to limit clear-cutting, and that he continues to recommend a bylaw be drafted to put that legislation in place.

Staff Reports address Q1 spending and more

All staff reports were offered for Council's information only this month. These included:

• The first quarter Accounts Payable Report (page 53), presented by Finance Officer Joe Chirkoff, who joined Council at the table to discuss expenditures through March of this year. He noted that many of the larger figures listed pertain to Beach Park costs. Councillor Michael Broughton noted that funding for the Beach Park upgrades came from federal, provincial and municipal sources, along with local fundraising and Translink funds, and asked if the project remains on budget. Chirkoff said there is currently a small surplus, but there may be expenses to be discussed later that could use up that amount.

• Abbott asked if a financial breakdown could include an update of current capital expenditure (capex) projects, and Chirkoff agreed to bring that information to an upcoming meeting.

• Chirkoff also presented a comparison of the budget numbers as of March 31, 2026 with the actual numbers (page 59). There was some discussion of staff costs, and compensation for changes due to CUPE negotiations

• Director of Operations Eric Villeneuve offered an update on the status of current municipal water projects. With regard to the installation of water meters, he said that Phase 1 of the project closed Friday. The Village received three bids from companies interested in supplying the hardware, and a choice of hardware provider will likely be made by the end of next week. Phase 2, encompassing the installation of the meters, is expected to go out to tender shortly, and the job will likely be awarded by the end of July, with potential for having shovels in the ground in August. Villeneuve said that Public Works is currently installing poles around the Village, to facilitate hardware connectivity. He said that tendering has been deferred to fall for the Centre-Bayview-Upper Bayview (CUBB) water main replacement project, which he anticipates will bring more bids, as winter is a less-busy time for the contracting companies. He anticipates shovels in the ground for this project next spring.

• Blackwell announced that the Village has been notified of the successful bid for the second round of grant funding from the Ministry of Transportation, which will allow for the completion of the bus stop next to the highway.

Climate Action Committee Seeks Natural Asset Inventory

The Climate Action Committee (CAC) asked Council's support for a number of items, including:

• A Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a company to oversee the undertaking of a Natural Asset Inventory for Lions Bay. CAC Chair Abbott said that the group had tightened up the wording as requested by staff. The motion carried.

• Staff to confirm that the costs of adding a curbside pink bin program for recycling soft plastics is covered by the grant money received by the operation of a Community Recycle Depot (CRD) in the Village. In the discussion that followed, Blackwell noted that staff are currently working at capacity, and that adding new directives means some other work will not get done. It was agreed that the request be made and that staff will address it as soon as they are able.

• Abbott said that CAC have learned that the CRD can now accept metal items, and asked Council to direct staff to confirm this is so, and if a collection bin and signage can be made available. The motion was approved, with the same caveat regarding staff time.

  
  

Mayor and Council Reports

Councillor Jaime Cunliffe addressed the dedication ceremony for the new Erin Moore playground, reiterating the request that it be held prior to Canada Day's official opening program. She confirmed that she would work around existing issues with blacktop and grass seeding, and liaise with the Moore family to set up an appropriate time for the event. Cunliffe also agreed to once again present the Citizen of Year and Citizen of Distinction awards at the Canada Day event.

Discussion followed on the subject of the Canada Day launch for the Official Community Plan (OCP) engagement process. Blackwell said the first day will serve as a basic introduction to the process for the wider community, and more in-depth consultation will follow. .

Correspondence

Public correspondence received from May 15-28 (summarized on page 85) opened with a letter asking for a proclamation regarding National Dental Care Day (on page 86).

Others included:

• The City of Pitt Meadows regarding increasing funding for agriculture (page 444).

• District of Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock regarding Local Government Climate Action Plan funding (page 108).

• Union of BC Municipalities President Cori Ramsay with the officially amended response to Council's resolution regarding Emergency Water Treatment Plants (page 111), and a follow-up letter of confirmation that the Province is looking into procurement and use of such equipment, from Assistant Deputy Minister Rachel Pollard of the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (page 113). Abbott asked to take this letter to the CAC for discussion.

• District of Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor seeking provincial funding for municipalities that meet mandated housing targets (page 114).

• Mike Hurley, Board Chair of Metro Vancouver, inviting comment from Council on the Regional Growth Strategy (page 117).

  
  

Residential correspondence began with a letter from Penny Nelson, team lead of Bird Friendly Lions Bay (page 119), pointing to Nature Canada's social media campaign featuring the Village (which can be seen HERE).

Others included:

• A letter from Dylan Smith (page 120) regarding a request for the installation of a disability parking space for Annual Permit holders near 350 Centre Road, and that it stay in place until June 1, 2027. Council agreed that the Director of Operations (DO)will install signage for temporary signage.

• From Ben and Ingrid Gauer (page121) asking that signage and public references to "Brunswick Beach" be changed to read 'Brunswick" only. Council decided to refer the request to the DO, and the motion carried.

• Former Councillor Norm Barmeier (page 123) addressing Council's transparency and consistency in the three related areas of bylaw enforcement (specifically those dealing with managing the risks associated with slope stability), management of e-scooters and limiting zoning bylaw changes to consideration as a part of the OCP.

  
  

Other Items of Note

• Council approved the minutes from the May 5 and May 19 meetings as published.

• The proposed amendment to Fees Bylaw (No.497) regarding temporary-use permit

  fees and the addition of a new no-charge rate for facility use during volunteer-led

  community events was adopted.

• With regard to the Action Items list, Councillor Ron McLaughlin reiterated his request for a complete overview of parking financials since the inception of the program, to be presented at the next meeting.

  
  
  
  

Public Participation, Questions & Comments

Lions Bay resident Larissa Goldstein asked about the clear-cutting of the lot at 250 Oceanview Road, and whether it was done legally. She said she believes there is a restriction of cutting vegetation within 30 meters of the riparian zone (creek side). Blackwell reiterated that the Village currently has no bylaws to limit clear-cutting. She then asked if, in the absence of a Village bylaw, was there a provincial law that requires compliance.

The meeting was adjourned to allow the evening's Public Hearing on the subject of amending Zoning Bylaw (No. 520, Amendment No. 663) to take place at 8 p.m. When the Public Hearing adjourned, there were no further speakers, and so the regular meeting also adjourned.

The next regular meeting of Council is scheduled for June 16, with the open portion of the meeting set to begin at 7 p.m.

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