Scott Stanfield
Record Staff
Courtenay council approved a motion from Doug Hillian to discuss policing matters with RCMP Insp. Tim Walton, particularly policing approaches to the library. Hillian and Mayor Larry Jangula both noted concerns about certain activity in and around the Courtenay Library.
* Courtenay council referred to staff the second edition of the Nature Without Borders report by the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy.
The CVCS steering committee has made nine recommendations — conserving healthy water resources among them — as to how local government can implement the report.
“The number one challenge locally is dealing with private land owners,” said Jack Minard, who presented on behalf of the committee.
He noted the difficulty of restoring a property that spans eight properties.
View the document at www.cvconservationstrategy.org.
•Roger Kishi of the Wachiay Friendship Centre and Kevin Albers, CEO of M’akola Development Services, introduced the organizations’ partnership and discussed social housing with council.
Kishi notes an “extreme need for supportive housing,” which is notably absent for single individuals in the Valley.
“The need for housing is a broad spectrum,” he said.
M’akola houses upwards of 4,500 people in affordable units around B.C.
Jangula noted that 12 families have been housed in Courtenay because the city donated land to Habitat for Humanity.
A draft Request for Proposal for the Braidwood supportive housing project in East Courtenay is expected to appear before council at its next meeting Jan. 12.
•Council adopted a bylaw to establish a 15-year parcel tax payment option for properties in the Headquarters Road and Vanier Drive sanitary sewer extension service area.
The sewer works project was completed last year.
The connection fee was $8,000.
Property owners intending to sell can either pay the entire sum, or it could stay with the property.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com