The Regular Meeting of City Council was held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC at 7:30 p.m., December 11, 2000.

Mayor Michael Coleman;

Paul Douville,

City Administrator.

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

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of City Council held on November 27, 2000 and the Inaugural Statutory Meeting of City Council held on December 4, 2000 be adopted.

Carried.

Present to observe the proceedings of the Council Meeting, six students from Thailand and their Instructor, Kathy Chappell, were in attendance.

Mayor Coleman welcomed the students and their Instructor and advised that City Council was delighted to have them in attendance. At the request of the Mayor, the City Administrator provided the students with totem lapel pins and City of Duncan brochures.

Representing the Cowichan Folk Guild, Brent Hutchinson, Artistic Director, addressed Council.

In 1985, the Island Folk Festival was held for the first time. Now in its 17^th year, it has grown from an attendance of approximately 50 people to 2,000 to 3,000 people. In 2000, it involved 150 artists, 40 members of staff, 250 volunteers, 6 venues and 85 musical performances over 3 days. There was also an open stage, many adhoc jams, song circles and workshops. Visitors come from all over North America to enjoy the annual festival.

Mr. Hutchinson said that the economic impact of the Festival is quite impressive for a volunteer not-for-profit organization. Festival surveys show that the average audience member spends $116.25 during the Festival. An audience of 2,500 would mean that expenditures of more than $290,000 are injected into the community on the Festival weekend from the public alone. Added to this would be the Folk Guild's direct expenditure of approximately $80,000, the majority of which is spent locally. Using the suggested economic multiplier of 3:1, an economic impact of over $1 million emanates each year from the Island Folk Festival.

Mr. Hutchinson said that to keep the ticket prices reasonable (i.e. $30.00 for the entire weekend), the Guild subsidized the 2000 Festival by $11,500. They like to refer to this as an "investment in our community", not as a "loss" as the Guild fundraises throughout the year to be fiscally responsible and meet all of their obligations in a timely manner. The Cowichan Folk Guild has an excellent financial track record and reputation. Mr. Hutchinson said that artistic excellence and variety, family fun and an atmosphere of "a meeting amongst friends" continue to be their overriding considerations - they have a tradition to uphold.

To date, the Guild has received submissions for the 2001 Festival from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Iran and Herzegovina as well as numerous North American artists. They receive an excess of 400 submissions a year. The Island Folk Festival is aggressively promoted and marketed throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, their limited budget has excluded advertising possibilities in the more expensive publications and promotional opportunities such as the Warm Land Magazine, Beautiful British Columbia Magazine, etc.

In closing, Mr. Hutchinson requested permis-sion to hang a banner advertising the Festival on the south-side of the Cowichan River and a financial contribution of between $500 and $2000 to offset the cost of marketing the Island Folk Festival in the Pacific Northwest.

For the information of the Guild Members, Council advised that the City water truck would no longer be available during the festival due to the recent adoption of a policy in this regard.

A number of members of Council expressed congratulations to the Cowichan Folk Guild for the tremendous job they do for the community.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the December 5, 2000 grant request from the Cowichan Folk Guild for the Island Folk Festival be referred to the Budget Review Committee.

Carried.

Representing Karin's Country, Geoff Bruce addressed Council requesting permission to site a sales kiosk outside of the Cowichan Valley Museum at the Train Station for the sale of chicken sausages. Mr. Bruce said they currently sell their product at the weekly Farmers' Market.

Mr. Bruce presented a letter dated November 29, 2000, signed by Renee Leger, president - Cowichan Historical Society, advising that Mr. Bruce's proposal to place a kiosk in front of the Train Station has been accepted by the Board of Directors of the Cowichan Historical Society. Ms. Leger said that due to the limited sidewalk space, creative thinking to find the right location would have to occur. She also advised Mr. Bruce that the approval of the City of Duncan would be mandatory.

On a question from Council, Mr. Bruce said that the proceeds to the Cowichan Historical Society would be based on the following arrangement. He would sell his product to the Society wholesale and buy it back from them at retail. He said they would get approximately 35% of the cost of the product using this method. Mr. Bruce also said that they would gladly distribute museum and Cowichan Tourism literature from their kiosk.

Mr. Bruce advised that Lance Steward, President - Duncan Business Improvement Area Society has advised him that they will not provide a letter of support to Council, but will write to him directly. He said that Mr. Steward stressed that the DBIAS does not want the floodgates opened to many other such ventures.

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the request from Karin's Country (Geoffrey Bruce), regarding a sausage sales kiosk adjacent to the Cowichan Valley Museum, be referred to the Parks & Recreation Committee stressing the need of support from the Duncan Business Improvement Area Society and the local restaurants.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT Council authorize the Capital Region Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada to stage their second annual "Super Cities Walk/Run for MS" April 8, 2001 (Sunday; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon) on the SIDEWALKS of the roadways within the City outlined in their November 28, 2000 letter;

AND THAT the MS Society be requested to contact the District of North Cowichan for the portion of the route in their jurisdiction;

AND THAT this authorization be subject to the event not interfering with the movement of vehicular traffic and subject to the RCMP being advised of this event.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the November 21, 2000 grant request from the Link Highway Committee be referred to the 2001 Budget Review Committee.

Carried.

For consideration was a letter dated November 27, 2000 from Microcell Connexions Inc. wherein they request permission to erect a wireless communications facility at the City water reservoir property off of Gibbins Road.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT the November 27, 2000 letter from Microcell Connexions Inc. be referred to the Finance Committee for recommendation.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor E. Moon

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the Council of the City of Duncan proclaim February 2001 as "Heart Month" in the City of Duncan as requested in the December 6, 2000 letter from the Cowichan Valley Unit of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon;

AND THAT the Foundation be authorized to display their "February is Heart Month" banner from the banner poles south of the Cowichan River on the east-side of the Trans Canada Highway for February 1 – 28, 2001, conduct door-to door canvassing during the month and conduct a Tag Day on Saturday, February 24, 2001;

AND THAT Members of Council make every effort to participate in the "Heart Month" fund-raising events.

Carried.

Warrant No.

Movd. Councillor E. Moon

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT Warrant No. 11-00 covering General Account cheque numbers 102239 – 102371 in the total amount of . . . . . $428,616.00

Payroll Account

- Payroll #23 covering cheque

numbers 0502 – 511 in the total

amount of . . . . . . . 26,989.63

- Payroll #24 covering cheque

numbers 512 - 535 33,174.90

GRAND TOTAL . . . . . . $488,780.53

be ratified.

Carried.

It was noted that the "doggy doo" bag dispensers are working well in the City parks.

Planning Committee

It was noted that Council will meet with the newly appointed Advisory Planning Commission Members on December 18, 2000. This will be an introductory and explanatory meeting.

For consideration was a memorandum dated November 28, 2000 from the Administrator.

Movd. Councillor E. Moon

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council authorize the mileage rate to be increased from 35¢ per kilometer to 39¢ per kilometer effective January 1, 2001.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the Building Statistics Report for November 2000, as prepared by Dave Sanders, Building Inspector/LAFC, be received, the contents noted and filed.

Carried.

For consideration was a letter dated December 7, 2000 from the Duncan/North Cowichan Joint Utilities Board.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor E. Moon

THAT as recommended by the Duncan/North Cowichan Joint Utilities Board, Council endorse the processing of an amendment to the Central Sector Liquid Waste Management Plan to permit the exploration of other options (e.g. alum addition) to reduce phosphorus loading to the Cowichan River.

Carried.

For consideration was a memorandum dated December 6, 2000 from the City Treasurer.

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the Council of the City of Duncan authorize the transfer of ownership of the Emergency Program Bus (1979 International) to the CVRD since the Emergency Program will be a regional function in 2001.

Carried.

Councillor Kent reported on the following items:

• On December 5, he attended his first Joint Utilities meeting and found it most interesting and informative.
• He attended the CVRD Inaugural Board Meeting on December 6 along with a number of other members of City Council.
• On December 9, he attended his first Vancouver Island Regional Library Board meeting along with Councillor Moon noting the concentration on planning issues.

Councillor Moon advised that he represented the City on December 5, 2000 at the commencement ceremony for the International Year of Volunteers. This designation was declared by the United Nations and most of the activities in Duncan will take place in Duncan during the week of April 20.

Councillor Moon also reported that he now has the new video produced by the Link Highway Committee. He volunteered to make a presentation to groups throughout the community regarding the work of the Link Highway Committee.

Councillor Jackson reported on the following items:

• She recently attended the benefit dinner for the plight of Mr. & Mrs. Archer to save their water buffalo herd from destruction. She said it was great to see such strong support for agriculture on Vancouver Island.
• On December 6, she and other members of Council participated in the anti-violence vigil in remembrance of the massacre of 14 young women in Montreal 11 years ago.
• She advised that instead of donating $250 for the tree project on Government Street hill, she has donated the money to the Green Door Society to assist with their Development Cost Charges. She said that $1,750 have been received to date towards the Green Door Society DCCs.

For consideration were the following items:

• Letter dated November 21, 2000 to Hills-Valley Appraisals Ltd. (Al Burnett) and Island Appraisal Services Ltd. (Dave Clark)
• Replies dated November 28 & 30, 2000

• Letter dated September 20, 2000 to the Green Door Society offering:

The Administrator advised that there was no correspondence forthcoming regarding the proposed development variance permit for the Merrill Lynch signage.

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT a Development Variance Permit for signage at 55 Canada Avenue (south side of the building) be issued providing the variance of allowing properly-sized signage to be located above the signable area on the face of the building (i.e. between the top of windows/doors on the first floor to the bottom of the windows on the second floor level) subject to the signage being located near the top of the blank exterior wall.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the Council of the City of Duncan resolve into Committee of the Whole (i.e. Special Meeting) to discuss a tender proposal and personnel and land acquisition issues;

AND THAT persons other than Council Members and the City Administrator be excluded from this meeting (Section 242.3 – Municipal Act).

Carried.

At 8:25 p.m., City Council resolved into Special Meeting.

Mayor Coleman wished everyone a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Michael Coleman

Paul Douville