Kendal Avenue residents in Cumberland have asked council to consider lowering the speed limit from 50 km/h to at least 40 km/h on all residential streets in the village — as has been done in their neighbourhood.
Council responded to a plea to lower the posted speed around Kendal to 30 km/h, which "gives drivers more time to react to the unexpected," Debbie Bowman states in a letter.
In addition to residential street safety, Bowman and company feel a lower speed limit would enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety on arterial, or major, roads.
The group asked council to consider lowering speed limits to 30 km/h on residential and 40 km/h on arterial roads. Another option is a "blanket speed limit" of 30 km/h on all roads with a sign at the village entrance.
Council referred the request to strategic planning.
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Council received a 2012-2016 financial plan for the Regional Growth Strategy that includes about $182,000 for a five-year review of the document, to be split among electoral areas and Valley municipalities.
Cumberland's share of $3,038 for 2012 and 2013 would increase to $3,332 for each year from 2014-2017. Courtenay's share would exceed $28,000 for the first two years and $31,000 for the ensuing four years.
Coun. Roger Kishi supports allocating resources to the RGS process, which looks at sustainable growth in Valley communities. He questions why Courtenay is against spending money on a review.
"It makes no sense at all," Kishi said Tuesday.
Coun. Conner Copeman, noting cost increases over the five-year period, asked for a second look and to weigh both sides.
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Council directed staff to develop a policy for publicly created gardens on Village-owned land. The policy is to include a fee schedule and lease.
Individuals have requested the use of a piece of land on Willard Avenue to develop a small vegetable and flower garden that would be managed by neighbourhood residents.
Copeman thinks an administration fee is not necessary. Coun. Kate Greening, who stepped in as acting mayor, likes the idea of a lease, which would formalize the process, and would include an administration fee and damage deposit.
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Council approved a Kishi motion to move forward with an organics composting pilot project that incorporates a co-mingling waste option.
Council had previously approved a request from the regional district to partner in a project to compost kitchen organics, beginning March 25. Collection could be done with new plastic containers or existing garbage cans. If the latter are used, co-mingled organic/yard waste would be collected every week.
The district has applied for a $160,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The amount available for containers is about $11 per household. Cumberland's total would be $14,300. However, each container costs about $29, resulting in an $18 shortfall per household.
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Council adopted bylaws for water and sanitary sewer rates. This year's residential water rate of $174 will increase to $187 per unit next year. Sewer jumps from $259 to $281. Utilities are due April 2.
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The Official Community Plan will be discussed at a committee of the whole meeting 5:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com