Council Update – June 3, 2024

The City of Duncan Council Update is a snapshot of items considered at meetings of Council. These are not the official minutes. Meeting agendas, minutes, and videos can be accessed through the City’s Council Meeting Portal.

During the Committee of the Whole meeting:

• the Committee resolved to forward a recommendation to Council to adopt the Transportation and Mobility Strategy 2024.
• the Committee directed staff to proceed with the preparation of a tender for the procurement of 100 litre collection carts for garbage, 100 litre collection carts for organics, and 240 litre carts for recycling for the implementation of automated solid waste collection.
• the Committee directed staff to prepare amendments to the City’s zoning bylaw to regularize short-term rentals that comply with the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, to review the program after one-year and make recommendations on its continuation, and to not actively pursue City bylaw compliance or provincial enforcement for short-term rentals that comply with the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act until Council consideration of the zoning bylaw amendments is complete.  The Committee supported undertaking a trial period due to the limited availability of hotel accommodation in the Cowichan Valley and the potential for short-term rental accommodation to contribute to the local economy.

During the 6:00 pm Regular Council meeting:

• Council received the report of the Chief Administrative Officer that included updates on a number of City initiatives.
• Council deferred consideration of a report on the Canada/Ingram Intersection Safety Project until the September 9, 2024 Council meeting so that Council will have the opportunity to consider additional data on the pedestrian scramble crosswalk collected during downtown Duncan’s busy summer months.
• Council discussed a request from the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area Society for $4,425 funding for umbrellas in Station Street Common. Council referred the request to the Tourism Advisory Committee with a suggestion that the cost of the program be divided three ways, with 1/3 funded by the DDBIA, 1/3 from the City’s Tourism Reserve, and an additional 1/3 from the City.
• Council adopted Zoning Bylaw amendments for small-scale multi-unit housing to bring the City’s Zoning Bylaw into compliance with new Provincial government requirements.
• Council adopted Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 3189.02, 2024 to amend the Municipal Ticket Information System.
• Council proclaimed September 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Duncan.

The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 17, 2024.