Here are some highlights from the June 12, 2024, City Council meeting. For more information – including the full agenda listing – read the Regular Council Meeting Agenda and its attachments.
Downtown Parking review
Council approved a motion to undergo a review of the downtown and hospital area parking.
The motion asks that administration return a report to council with recommendations to revamp the parking bylaw with enough time to rollout the changes in the fall of 2025. It is intended that the review include consultation with stakeholders.
Council has also directed administration to look at the on-street parking around the hospital due to current and ongoing construction projects. The hospital is building a new parkade but in the interim there are short-term impacts for staff and patients.
Bus routes to remain
Council voted to maintain current operations for the 88 Westgate and 89 Hart bus service routes.
In a report to council it was explained that proposed changes for these services, which were scheduled for September, came about as a result of these routes experiencing a demand beyond their capacity and challenges with service reliability during the busiest parts of the day.
However council noted public feedback was against the proposed changes, which would see Davis, Foster and Baker Roads impacted. Council directed administration to work with BC Transit on implementing existing routing, with an option to look at alternate routes.
Snow & Ice Control policy
Council received a report on the current Snow and Ice Control Policy for discussion. The Snow and Ice Control Council Procedure was originally adopted by Council in 2014 and then updated to a council policy in 2019.
Defined timeframes and priority routing identified in the Snow and Ice Control Council Policy and the Snow and Ice Control Routes Bylaw provide continuity for the delivery of snow removal services and public expectations.
Council directed administration to return a report to council outlining the budget impact if the City were to cease clearing driveways as noted in the Snow and Ice Control Policy.
They also asked for a report outlining the budget implications on increasing the snow clearing service levels minimum metrics by 2.5 cm and reducing snow clearing services on statutory holidays.
Addition to Reserve application
Council voted in favour of providing a letter of support for the Lheidli T’enneh’s Addition to Reserve application.
As outlined in a report, the City was notified by Indigenous Services Canda (ISC) in March that a request has been made by Lheidli T’enneh to pursue the Addition to Reserve process on two portions of land where the nation’s administrative office (150 Brunswick Street) and the House of Ancestors (355 Vancouver Street) are located.
The Government of Canada has discretion to create reserves and add land to existing reserves in accordance with Canada’s Addition to Reserve/Reserve Creation Policy Directive. The City will send the letter of support to ISC as well as arrange for the signing of a letter of understanding regarding the Addition to Reserve Lands process.
Nuisance abatement bylaw review
Council received a report outlining the use and effectiveness of the Nuisance Abatement Bylaw.
The report outlined the definition of ‘nuisance’ to mean any activity which substantially and unreasonably interferes with a person's use and enjoyment of a highway, park or other public area or of land a person owns or occupies.
The specific purpose of this bylaw is cost recovery for ongoing nuisances where individuals refuse to comply and continue to fail to make efforts to remedy the situation after the routine education process takes place. The report explained that the bylaw has been used through to the point of cost recovery on two occasions.
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