The Regular Meeting of City Council was held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC at 7:30 p.m., March 13th, 2000.

Present:
Mayor Michael Coleman;
Councillors Sharon Jackson, Phil Kent, Martin Lukaitis, Geoff Maxwell and Ernie Moon.

Absent With
Prior Notice:

Councillor Mike Caljouw.

Also Present:
Paul Douville, City Administrator.

His Worship Mayor Michael Coleman opened the Council Meeting with a prayer and called for order.

Adoption of Minutes
Movd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
Secd. Councillor S. Jackson
THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of City Council held on February 28th, 2000 be adopted.
Carried.

Communications

Provincial Child Care Paper
For consideration was a letter dated February 28th, 2000 from the City of Vancouver.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent
Secd. Councillor S. Jackson
THAT the Council of the City of Duncan endorse "in principle" the February 24th, 2000 resolution of the Council of the City of Vancouver entitled "Response to the Provincial Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security (MSDES) Child Care Paper";
AND THAT the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security (MSDES) be requested to sponsor local forums with all stakeholders to solicit a considered response from our communities.
Carried.

Cowichan Valley Safer Futures Seminar
For consideration was a letter dated March 1st, 2000 from the Cowichan Valley Safer Futures Organization.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT Councillor Martin Lukaitis represent City Council at the 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., March 31st, 2000 (Friday) "What's Happening, What's Working II: Women and/in Community Safety" Seminar hosted by the B.C. Coalition for Safer Communities in conjunction with Cowichan Valley Safer Futures at the Cowichan Native Village.

Carried.

International Day for the Elimina-tion of Racial Discrimination
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT March 21st, 2000 be proclaimed as "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination" in the City of Duncan as requested by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in their February 9th, 2000 letter.
Carried.

Southern V.I. Direct Farm Marketing Association - Grant Request
Movd. Councillor E. Moon
Secd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
THAT Council deny the February 21st, 2000 grant request from the Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association (i.e. $200.00) noting the need for fiscal restraint and the fact that Council does not wish to expand the already substantial grants list;
AND THAT Council encourage the public to participate in the July 9th, 2000 "Tour of Farms".

Carried.

Cowichan Food Connection - Grant Request
Movd. Councillor P. Kent
Secd. Councillor S. Jackson
THAT Council deny the March 1st, 2000 grant request from the Cowichan Food Connection noting the need for fiscal restraint and since Council does not want to increase the already substantial grants lists;
AND THAT Council express appalling concern that social services short-comings of the senior levels of Government force agencies such as the Cowichan Food Connection to seek grants from Local Governments, which do not have a mandate for providing social services.

Carried.

Annual "Walk" for the Elimination of Racial Discrimina-tion
For consideration was a letter dated February 29th, 2000 from the Cowichan Valley Intercultural & Immigrant Aid Society.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT the Cowichan Valley Intercultural and Immigrant Aid Society (CVIIAS) be advised that March 21st, 2000 has been proclaimed as the "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination" in the City of Duncan in response to the February 9th, 2000 request from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (copy of the proclamation to be forwarded to the Society);
AND THAT a Commissionaire be provided to assist in providing safety for the 10th Annual "Walk" between City Hall and the Si'em Lelum Dining Room (10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; March 21st) sponsored by the CVIIAS and Hiiye'yu Lelum (House of Friendship);
AND THAT Mayor Coleman or his representative officially participate in this event.
Carried.

MS Society -Fundraising Canvass
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
THAT the Vancouver Island Multiple Sclerosis Society be granted permission to conduct a fundraising canvass in the City of Duncan on May 12th & 13th, 2000 as requested in the February 18th, 2000 letter from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Capital Region Chapter.

Carried.

Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month
Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell
Secd. Councillor S. Jackson
THAT April 2000 be proclaimed "Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month" as requested in the February 28th, 2000 letter from the British Columbia Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

Carried.

Conquer Cancer Month
Movd. Councillor E. Moon
Secd. Councillor P. Kent
THAT the Council of the City of Duncan proclaim the month of April 2000 as "Conquer Cancer Month" in the City of Duncan;
AND THAT the Council of the City of Duncan authorize the display of the Cancer Society Banner from the banner poles south of the Cowichan River on the east-side of the Trans Canada Highway from April 1 - 30, 2000;
AND THAT permission be granted for volunteers to sell daffodils at different venues within the City as requested in the March 3rd, 2000 letter from the Cowichan Valley Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Carried.

Safe Drinking Water Week
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT the Council of the City of Duncan proclaim May 7 - 13, 2000 as "Safe Drinking Water Week" in the City of Duncan as requested in the March 3rd, 2000 letter from the BC Water & Waste Association;
AND THAT Council endorse-in-principle the Water Conservation Strategy for British Columbia.
Carried.

Aquannis Centre 2000 Annual Budget
Movd. Councillor P. Kent
Secd. Councillor E. Moon
THAT Council grant pre-budget approval to a maximum of $8,000 from the Aquannis Centre 2000 Annual Capital Expenditure Budget (not the Reserve Fund) for the purchase of 2 Lifecycle Recumbent Exercise Bicycles;
AND THAT Council approve of the proposed Aquannis Centre 2000 Annual Budget ($1,099,602.00) with priority #1 Capital General Revenue requests for $24,226 being included;
AND THAT the Treasurers of the City of Duncan and the District of North Cowichan be requested to meet with the CCC General Manager regarding preparation of a five-year financial plan for the Aquannis Centre.

Carried.

"Bring'em on Home to the Cowichan Valley" Promotion
For consideration was a letter dated March 13th, 2000 from Chris Sherlock of Sybagrafx.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT Council advise that it endorses "in principle" the new promotion for the Cowichan Valley called "Bring'em on Home to the Cowichan Valley" being managed by Chris Sherlock of Sybagrafx and by Whittome's Travel as outlined in the March 13th, 2000 letter from Mr. Sherlock;
AND THAT Mr. Sherlock be asked to provide us with a sample "Symbolic Key to the City of Duncan" proposed to be given to the lucky ticket winners of the travel contest.
Carried.

Reports of Standing Committees

Finance Committee

Warrant No. 02-00
Movd. Councillor E. Moon
Secd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
THAT Warrant No. 02-00 covering General Account cheque numbers 100864 - 101028 in the total amount of . . . . . $411,960.43
Payroll Account
- Payroll #04 covering cheque
numbers 0054 - 0077 in the total
amount of . . . . . . . 32,564.50
- Payroll #05 covering cheque
numbers 0078 - 0087 26,123.58
GRAND TOTAL . . . . . . $470,648.51.

Carried.

Planning Committee

21 Queens Road - Development Permit
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT Council authorize the issuance of a Development Permit for the 21 Queens Road upgrade as shown on the plans received March 2nd, 2000 (mansard band color to be the same blue as Island Savings Credit Union);
AND THAT the Building Inspector be authorized to issue the related Building Permit (project cost for interior and exterior renovation is between $70,000 and $75,000).
Carried.

Reports of Special Committees

Building Statistics Report - February 2000
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor P. Kent
THAT the Building Statistics Report, as prepared by Dave Sanders, Building Inspector/LAFC, be received, the contents noted and filed.

Carried.

AVICC and Seniors Games
Mayor Coleman reported that at the recent Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities Convention in Port Hardy (March 10, 11 & 12, 2000), the organization changed the name to the Association of Vancouver Island & Coastal Communities (AVICC). He said he was pleased to announce that Duncan and North Cowichan have been awarded the honour of hosting the 2001 convention and that Councillor Jackson and Kent have volunteered to participate on the organizing committee.

Mayor Coleman also reported on the March 7th, 2000 BC Seniors Games meeting held at the Cowichan Community Centre. He said that the meeting was very well attended, that good representation was present from both Councils and that there was a high level of enthusiasm among all the participants to submit a bid for the 2003 BC Seniors Games.

Unfinished Business

Child Poverty
Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell
Secd. Councillor P. Kent
THAT the following correspondence regarding Child Poverty in Canada be received, the contents noted and filed:

i.) Letter dated February 23rd, 2000 from the Federal Minister of Human Resources Development;
ii.) Letter dated November 24th, 1999 to the Honourable Jean Chretien from the City Administrator.

Carried.

Policing Costs
Movd. Councillor E. Moon
Secd. Councillor S. Jackson
THAT the following items of correspondence, regarding policing costs, be received, the contents noted and filed:

i.) Letter dated February 24th, 2000 from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs;
ii.) Letter dated January 26th, 2000 to the Minister of Municipal Affairs from the City Administrator.

Carried.

Business Licence - Family Books
For consideration were the following items of correspondence:

i.) Memo dated March 2nd, 2000 from the City Administrator;
ii.) Letter dated February 29th, 2000 from Family Books.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent
Secd. Councillor E. Moon
THAT the following provisions of the Business Licence Bylaw remain in effect:
* Business Licence Fee is $100.00/year
* The Licence Fee is reduced by 50% in the initial year if the business commences operation after July 31
* It is the responsibility of the business owner to apply for a Business Licence.

Carried.

Beverage Containers
- New Charges
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT City Council correspond with Premier Ujjal Dosanjh, referencing the March 8th, 2000 memo from the UBCM Environment Committee, advising of the following:

* Council does not support the imposition of an 'extra fee' on consumers by the beverage container industry and that action be taken to stop these additional charges from being imposed;
* The beverage container industry be required to clearly justify in a transparent fashion any future environmental fee increases on its products to the public before an increase is implemented;
* The deposit-refund system be the only method that the beverage container industry be permitted to use to recover its recycling costs from the consumer;

AND THAT copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Honourable Joan Sawicki, Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks and MLA Jan Pullinger.

Carried.

CAT Scan for the Cowichan District Hospital
For consideration was a memorandum dated March 8th, 2000 from Councillor Martin Lukaitis.

Movd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
Secd. Councillor S. Jackson
THAT letters be sent to the Honourable Minister of Health Mike Farnworth and the Honourable Minister of Finance Paul Ramsey, for the Province of BC, outlining the following:

"WHEREAS the amount donated by local resident Pat Carson towards the purchase of CAT Scan diagnostic equipment for the Cowichan District Hospital has grown to more than $1.25 million;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council request that sufficient funds be provided in the 2000 Health Ministry Budget to install and operate this equipment at the Cowichan District Hospital in the year 2000";

AND THAT copies of these letters be sent to Premier Ujjal Dosanjh and Jan Pullinger, MLA.

Carried.

City Centre Directional Signage
Movd. Councillor P. Kent
Secd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
THAT the Council of the City of Duncan correspond with the Ministry of Transportation and Highways requesting that the highway "City Centre" directional signs for Duncan be improved in accordance with Ministry Standards similar to the ones now in place for the City of Nanaimo and other municipalities on Vancouver Island.

Carried.

CVRD Offices - Remain Near Duncan Core
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor M. Lukaitis
THAT the Council of the City of Duncan correspond with the Cowichan Valley Regional District Board of Directors encouraging them to have the CVRD offices remain near the Duncan city core in order to maintain a strong presence for the benefit of the public and the CVRD staff;
AND THAT Council advise the Board that it is prepared to work with them in this regard.

Carried.

Adjournment
Movd. Councillor S. Jackson
Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell
THAT this meeting of City Council do now adjourn.

Carried.

At 8:00 p.m. the meeting adjourned.

Michael Coleman
Mayor

Paul Douville
City Administrator

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