October 27 Council In Focus

Agenda squabbles overshadowed by film windfall

All Council members were present in person for their final regular meeting of October, with the exception of Mayor Ken Berry who chaired the meeting while attending online.

A total of 16 residents attended online and in person over the course of the evening.

Approval of the evening's agenda began with an ironic twist, when Councillor Michael Broughton's report complaining that fellow councillors Neville Abbott, Jaime Cunliffe and Ron McLaughlin have repeatedly removed items of "matters of timely importance to the community" from meeting agendas since early July was in itself removed from the evening's agenda.

"I have a fiduciary responsibility to the residents of this Village, and I bring forward topics which I believe are of serious concern to our Villagers," said Broughton in defence of his motion.

In response, Councillor Neville Abbott noted that all the items listed by Broughton have been dealt with in earlier meetings, with decisions that reflect the will of Council. After further discussion the item was struck from the agenda, and the agenda was accepted as modified.

Public Participation

Architect and local resident Russ Meiklejohn spoke with regard to a permit application for a renovation to a Lions Bay Avenue home, Meiklejohn said that his application was first submitted last March, updated with requested information in May and had plans submitted in early summer. He expressed his frustration that the process is moving so slowly, and that he fully expected Council to have considered the application by now. In response Blackwell said this matter is not on the agenda, and should remain in the hands of staff.

$100,000 Gift to the Village

Kelvin Grove residents Victoria Rogers and Kim Mailey returned to follow up with Council regarding the details of their proposed $100,000 gift to the municipality from their family and Blink49, who are the producers of the reality television series that was filmed in the Rogers/Mailey home.

Rogers first introduced the subject to Council at a special meeting in June when applying for permission to film the series in the Village. This time, she spoke about the positive filming experience, and together with her husband Kim Mailey presented an oversized cheque for $100,000 made out to the Village from the family and production company.

Rogers said she was asked for a list of possible opportunities, and offered a breakdown of where she would like to see the funds directed. These included:

• Artwork for the new facilities at Lions Bay Beach Park, in support of Lions Bay Arts

• Upright piano for the Village Hall

• AED defibrillators

• After-school acting classes for children and adults at the Village Hall

• Family movie nights

• Removal of invasive species in Kelvin Grove

• Upgrading the current Lions Bay sign and landscaping the surrounding area

Each item on the list was applauded by members of Council and the gallery.

Council Reports

Councillors Broughton and Abbott presented reports following up on the Howe Sound Community Forum (page 160). Abbott referenced the European Green Crab as an invasive species to be aware of in Howe Sound waters.

Unfinished Business

The anticipated third reading of the draft Subdivision Servicing bylaw (page 42) was defeated. After discussion where the essential nature of this bylaw was emphasized, it was agreed that CAO Blackwell would seek advice to reassess the wording, and then bring it back before Council.

Staff Reports

• Director of Operations (DO) Karl Buhr brought forward a report on Bridge Remediation (page 150). According to the report, costs were budgeted as a $300,000 capital expense in 2023, and supplemental operational expense budgeted at $180,000 in 2024. The report explains how the process was undertaken, and how the underlying rebar was found to be sound, un-rusted and adequately protected by concrete. Repairs came in under budget.

• Financial Officer Joe Chirkoff presented the final corrected version of the 2024 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI), for which Council granted approval (page 153). Discussion clarified how the current Director of Operations was first paid as a contractor before he moved into a salaried position.

  
  

Other Items of Note

• Minutes for regular meetings held on September 2 and 16, and October 7, and a special meeting held on September 11 were approved with minor alterations. Discussion arose around the status of minutes for a special meeting that was called on September 18, but not held, due to lack of quorum. In the end, the motion to accept those minutes passed, with corrections noted.

• On the Action log (page 41) Abbott inquired about the status of item 339, the proposed Lions Bay trail race event. Deputy Corporate Officer Kristal Kenna said that the Director of Operations did follow up with specifications that would need to be met, and said she would revisit it with the individual interested in organizing the event.

• With regard to Action Log item 358, which is a staff compilation of violations and

  collections statistics from Wiggans Collection Agency, Abbott noted that the log indicates this has been completed, but the information has not been presented to Council. Staff was requested to follow up.

• In the absence of a Fire Chief, Council agreed that the Director of Operations will update Fire Rating signs around the Village.

Correspondence

The sole piece of public correspondence (on page 164) was a letter from MP Patrick Weiler regarding the Anti-Hate Call, a national program that funds initiatives to address and prevent hate in Canada.

Resident correspondence included:

• A letter from long-time resident and Infrastructure Committee member Tony Greville on the importance of infrastructure spending in the Village (page 165). Councillor McLaughlin, on correspondence duty this quarter, offered his thanks to Greville for writing.

• Lions Bay Bird Friendly wrote regarding the role that protecting trees can take in climate resilience, nature-based solutions and natural asset management (page 169).

• A letter was received from resident Monica Gewertz (not included in the agenda) regarding the clearing of beach access paths on Lions Bay Avenue. After discussion it was agreed that Works would clear the public paths so the routes to the water are accessible.

• Alexander Cochrane (also not included in the agenda) wrote about his concern that his daughter's piano lessons may conflict with the noise bylaw, to which McLaughlin will reply that they do not.

• McLaughlin said he would also reply to Dr. Greg Banta with regard to his letter last month in which he stated that he was fined for garbage that was placed in front of his driveway by a neighbour. Berry commented that the issue is complicated by driveways that adjoin or cross.

The meeting adjourned after a comparatively brief one hour and thirty-seven minutes.

Councillors Michael Broughton, Neville Abbott, Jaime Cunliffe, and Ron McLaughlin celebrate the film-related donation from Blink 49 Studios, Victoria Rogers (second from left) and Kim Mailey (second from right). Photo by Leslie Nolin.

The next regular meeting of Council is scheduled for November 4, with the open portion of the meeting beginning at 7 p.m. The next COW meeting, again focused on budget issues, is set for October 23, at 6 p.m.

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