October 28 Council Highlights

From the meeting of October 28, 2019

Childminding Services Trial Period Extended

Council approved extending the childminding services trial period at the Community Recreation and Cultural Centre (CRCC) to better determine the viability of providing the program as an ongoing recreation service.

The original trial period was developed as the result of a request from a group of parents in the community seeking childminding services so that they could access the CRCC facility. The subsidized service was created with input from the Parks and Recreation Committee and public consultation process, creating an opportunity for parents to work out at the facility for up to an hour and a half while a staff member supervises their little ones.

Overall the service has been well received with an average of six participants attending each of the twenty sessions provided, and seven new families have signed up for memberships. The extension of the trial period will give a better outlook into public interest in having the program offered. The conditions of the trial period offered now through June 26, 2020 include:

• Available Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays between 8:15 am – 11:15 am;
• $3 drop-in for up to 1.5 hours of childminding for membership holders and $4 drop-in for; up to 1.5 hours of non-membership holders;
• $27 for a10-pass and $48 for a 20 pass.

Council Meeting Schedule 2020

The Regular meeting schedule for the year 2020 was approved unanimously. All meetings will held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Hall, 7170 Cheam Avenue beginning at 7:00 pm on Mondays, unless otherwise indicated.

• January 13, 27
• February 10, 24
• March 9, 23
• April 15 (Wednesday), 27
• May 11, 25
• June 8, 22
• July 20
• August 17
• September 14
• October 14 (Wednesday), 26
• November 9, 23
• December 14

Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action Day

On Wednesday, October 30 the Chawathil First Nation will be hosting a Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action Day. The primary purpose of the event is to establish dialogue and awareness between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Peoples in response to the Truth and Reconciliation’s 94 Calls to Action. The event hopes to inspire individual and collective commitment to actions that promote reconciliation within local communities.

The day will include an Elders Panel, Youth Panel, Leadership Panel, small group discussions on the Calls to Action and engagement and a Commitment Ceremony.

The free event runs 9:00 am to 3:30 pm located at Te Lalemtset, Unit 4, 60814 Lougheed Highway, Chawathil. Registration is required as space is limited, please contact Chawathil First Nation for more information at 604-869-9994.

FireSmart Grant Application Supported

Council supported submitting a grant application for funding from the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Resiliency Investment program in the amount of $40,300 for fuel management activities on public land in the Harrison Highlands area.

Fuel management is the trimming and pruning of trees and foliage, including debris removal, from forest areas in order to lessen the impact of a wildfire and to help fire crews suppress flames in the event of a wildfire on public land.

In June 2019, Council received a list of recommendations outlined in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan that identified the high priority of assessing and developing treatment of hazardous fuel units. Harrison Highlands is an appropriate area due to the high consequences of an urban interface fire in this region. The fully funded demonstration project and noticeable difference in the forest area will serve as a visual reminder for residents in the area to take on their own FireSmart activities around their homes. Visit the FireSmart website for more information about protecting private property.

Public Hearing for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1601

Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1601, 2019 (Bylaw 1601) has been prepared as a ‘clean-up’ bylaw intended to clarify and update Zoning Bylaw language and regulations. A Public Hearing date has been set for November 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm. The following amendments are proposed:

• Agricultural Use definition

The definition would be amended to include Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulation

• Accessible Parking Spaces

All references to disabled person parking spaces would be replaced with references to accessible parking spaces

• Fence Regulations

Proposes to use the defined front lot line setback as a measurement to provide property owners with a better understanding on how to determine specific fence height on their property and proposes to eliminate requirements for Development Variance Permits when the property owner wants to place a fence on top of a retaining wall that was constructed and approved by the District Engineering during a subdivision or development project.

• Flood Control Provisions

Proposes to reference that flood control provisions are contained within the District of Kent Floodplain Bylaw No. 1590,2019 and its amendments in order to direct applicants and staff to the new regulations as and proposes to remove the flood control provisions from the Zoning Bylaw to eliminate inconsistencies.

• Shipping Container Regulations

Proposes to permit shipping containers in the Agricultural (A) Zone to provide more affordable building options for farmers wishing to conduct small scale operations and proposes to allow small scale agricultural operations, including livestock and poultry to take place within converted containers subject to other shipping container regulations being met.