Scott Stanfield
Record staff
•The regional district is asking for additional funds to generate $69.2 million over the next 15 years for Comox Strathcona Waste Management capital spending. The CVRD suggests the money come from property taxes.
Council agreed to request the district to consider an alternate approach.
"This has a significant impact to larger municipalities such as cities and towns where the property assessments are typically higher than in rural areas," a staff report states.
Staff suggest a per-capita levy would be a more equitable approach.
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* Courtenay Council agreed to contribute $7,500 towards the 100-Year Celebration Committee legacy fund for youth.
The money — which will come from gaming funds — will help the group organize a Courtenay Spring Social March 18 at the Filberg Centre. Proceeds will benefit youth projects in the Valley.
"I think it's a very laudable initiative," Coun. Doug Hillian said Monday.
•Council authorized a $100,000 expenditure towards a design charrette process, part of the downtown revitalization project. Director of development services Ian Buck says it's a typical expense when considering the price of consultants and other factors.
A charrette is a workshop where the public and design professionals work together on visions and goals for future development. The City will host a charrette between March 7 and 10 at Native Sons Hall. The events will be led by Michael von Hausen, who facilitated a downtown forum last year.
•The Courtenay branch of the Dogwood Initiative has requested council to forward a motion for an aggressive tree bylaw that would set a 45 per cent canopy target for the region. The idea is to sequester carbon through tree preservation and promotion.
"A progressive tree bylaw would slow down sprawl," Dave Mills said in a presentation. He figures the canopy in Courtenay is about 37 per cent.
Mayor Larry Jangula was taken aback by the request.
"I think we have by far the most aggressive tree bylaw in the Valley," he said.
The Dogwood Initiative unites people in B.C. to reclaim decision-making power over their air, land and water.
Locally, besides the tree bylaw, the group is advocating for property tax and bylaw changes to support local food production. At the district level, it suggests a carbon tax to fund non-motorized transportation networks.
•Council approved a resolution from Erik Eriksson to request the Economic Development Society to investigate the development of an ancillary medical-technological services park near the new hospital.