The meeting of the Committee of the Whole, slated for 7:00 pm tonight (July 16) is dominated by issues and applications for land use and development but contains recommendations on public engagement, the BC Energy Step Code and at least one potentially contentious issue regarding the municipalities approach to recreational marijuana.
The meeting will start with a review of the Report and Recommendations of the Mayor’s Task Force on Public Engagement.
That report comes as a result of a task force that was first established in 2012, but preliminary reports in 2017 and 2018 led to an expansion of the level of public engagement, tapping hundreds of Oak Bay residents before the completion of the work.
Nine recommendations will be up for discussion, focusing on: the design and framing of public participation opportunities; improved public publishing of Council business; changing Council meeting dates for better public access; communication of Council decisions in a timely manner; clarifying the roles of Council bodies and advisory committees; outlining how to have input and participate in agendas and on-line; clarification of how Council decisions are made; and the inclusion of public engagement workshops and tool kits for Council.
Council will then turn its attention to development issues.
In all, 11 applications will be heard, including applications for siting and design at 237 King George Terrace, 3175 Exeter Road, 2176 Windsor Road, 591 Windsor Road, and 591 Island Road.
Development Variances are also being sought for 1159 Beach Drive, 2939 Westdowne Road, 609 Oliver Street, and 2785 Dorset Road.
Finally, a Heritage Alteration Permit is being sought for 2390 San Carlos Avenue; an application that has the support of administration in a report citing no significant issues with the proposed work.
Next on the agenda is a report that addresses the change in federal law that will make the use of recreational cannabis legal in Canada as of Oct. 17, 2018.
The administrative report on the challenges presented to the municipality by this change cites the significant amount of work required to address the location criteria associated with siting recreational marijuana outlets.
The report by Deborah Jensen, Director of Planning and Bruce Anderson, Director of Building and Planning, addresses these challenges by recommending “That Council direct staff to bring forward bylaw amendments to prohibit the use of recreational cannabis within the community.”
The last item on the agenda is a report , again from Deborah Jensen, regarding the introduction of the BC Energy Step Code in Oak Bay. The implementation of the code has been recommended for adoption.
Following the meeting of the Committee of the Whole, a regular Council meeting will immediately convene at which time the committee’s recommendations for 237 King George Terrace, 3175 Exeter Rd., 2176 Windsor, and 591 Island Road will be moved for adoption. Similarly, the recommendations for Recreational Cannabis Regulations and the Energy Step Code will be up for adoption.
A public participation period will follow as will the consideration of correspondence, including: a request for financial assistance from the Crossing Guards Association; a report on the tendering of the Henderson Park tennis court resurfacing, a report on the Fire Dispatch contract renewal, and a Fire Department vehicle replacement.
Council will also review the minutes of the Advisory Design Panel, the Advisory Planning Commission, and the Heritage Commission.
The Heritage Revitalization Agreement for 2031 Runnymede Ave. will also be considered.