The Regular Meeting of City Council was held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC at 7:30 p.m., September 25, 2000.

Mayor Michael Coleman;

Councillors Sharon Jackson, Phil Kent, Martin Lukaitis, Geoff Maxwell and Ernie Moon.

Absent With

Paul Douville, City Administrator.

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

Movd. Councillor M. Lukaitis

Secd. Councillor P. Kent

THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of City Council held on September 11, 2000 be adopted.

Carried.

Tim Wittenberg - Animal Rights Activists

Mr. Tim Wittenberg of #108 - 360 Bundock Avenue, Duncan, BC addressed Council regarding the tactics of the "Animal Rights Movement" in the USA.

He advised that Animal Rights Advocates realize that local government ordinances are often easier to introduce than State or Federal legislation. Often local officials do not have experience or knowledge concerning animal issues and might be swayed by propaganda distributed to them by animal rights proponents.

In Redmond, Washington, a proposed ordinance banning the display of "wild or exotic animals" listed 17 categories of such animals, including "ungulates". "Ungulates" include horses as well as many other hoofed animals. If passed as written, the ordinance would have banned horse shows, 4-H Shows, horse units in parades, carriage horses and any other animal activities in which cattle, sheep, pigs or horses were involved. Fortunately, the Washington Horse Council realized the full impact of the proposed ordinance and domestic animals were exempted before the law was passed.

Mr. Wittenberg said that it is important to understand that a good deal of legislation introduced is not about the proper care and management of animals, it is about ending the use of animals. He said such laws could jeopardize the local Therapeutic Riding Association, Pony Clubs, the dairy industry and all the secondary employment that is created by these animals. He said it is "stunts" like that of the Redmond case that leave many in the equestrian community suspicious of anything brought forward that could affect what is important to them, their way of life and the industry of which they are a part.

Mayor Coleman thanked Mr. Wittenberg for his presentation and he left the meeting.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor E. Moon

THAT as requested in their September 12, 2000 letter, the Council of the City of Duncan authorize the Cowichan Valley District Scouting Group to hold their annual "Apple Day" fundraising event in the City of Duncan on October 7, 2000.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor P. Kent

THAT the Council of the City of Duncan proclaim October 15 - 21, 2000 as "Affordable Housing Week" in the City as requested in the September 18, 2000 letter from the Provincial Government.

Carried.

For consideration were the following items:

• Letter dated September 15, 2000 from Mrs. N. Butt

• Memo dated September 15, 2000 from the Public Works Superintendent.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT the September 15, 2000 request from Mrs. Noreen Butt to have the compost depot open one day during the week be denied for the following reasons:

• The present schedule of Saturday & Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. March through November is now well known by members of the public and is included in various publications (e.g. CVRD Recycling Handbook and Household Recycling Calendars).
• For fiscal reasons, we would have to close one of the weekend days to accommodate the weekday opening.
• Mrs. Butt's request is the only such request received.
• The high volume of compostable material received indicates that the present system is working well;

AND THAT Mrs. Butt be advised that the very wet and mild winter and spring we experienced caused our weed spraying program to be less effective than usual.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor E. Moon

THAT the letter dated September 18, 2000 from the following individuals, regarding the possible removal of the hedge separating Duncan Street businesses from downtown, be referred to the Parks & Recreation Committee for recommendation:

• Raj Benji, Manager-Phoenix Station Motor Inn

• Mike Moroz, Artistic Director-Mercury Theatre
• Rick Peters, Manager-Planet Duncan

• Jeff Winship, Co-owner-330 Duncan St.

Carried.

For consideration were the notes of the September 20, 2000 meeting.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT Council advise the 7-Eleven Developers that the facia band and signage on the west-side of the building (apartment side of the building) can be deleted since there will be considerable foliage on this side of the building, but that the band on the north-side of the building be left in place as previously approved (i.e. College Street properties side of the building).

Carried.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT Council continue to allow business hours to be regulation-free due to the fact that there are no restrictions in the local government jurisdictions surrounding the City of Duncan.

Carried.

Councillor Moon reported that he recently participated in the following two meetings regarding policing costs:

• September 13, 2000 - a 90-minute conference call with a number of representatives from the other affected 13 communities that may be facing policing costs in 2002.
• September 22, 2000 in Richmond - a meeting of representatives from various sized communities at the invitation of the UBCM.

Councillor Moon said that both of the meetings were fact-finding sessions and attempts are being made to find a common ground for developing a more equitable police financing system.

Mayor Coleman reported on the following items:

• On September 15, he participated in the official opening ceremonies of the second Vancouver Island Wine Festival. He said this is a great event for the Cowichan Valley and all of Vancouver Island.
• On September 17, he along with Councillors Caljouw, Maxwell and Moon attended a reception at City Hall with representatives of the Canada World Youth Program from Costa Rica.
• On September 19, he participated in the Cowichan Fringe Festival Backwards Parade and congratulated the Society for the resounding success of the 2000 Fringe Festival.

For consideration were the following items:

• Letter dated September 12, 2000 from the District of North Cowichan.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT Council agree with the September 13, 2000 proposal of Active Disposal and Recycling Ltd. for the recycling of plastics coded #3 through #7 inclusive commencing January 1, 2001;

AND THAT Council agree to pay $.13 per home per month for this service noting there will not be an increase in the charge levied to the homeowners or tenants (i.e. $10.00 per annum);

AND THAT Council further agree that the recycling bags contain the logos of the City of Duncan, District of North Cowichan and CVRD for ease of placing re-orders and for economies of scale.

Carried.

For consideration were the following items:

• Letters dated February 16 and September 7, 2000 to and from the Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Federal Minister for International Trade

• Letter dated December 16, 1999 from the UBCM.

Movd. Councillor M. Lukaitis

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT the September 7, 2000 letter from the Hon. Pierre Pettigrew, Federal Minister for International Trade, regarding the impact of federal trade negotiations on local governments in Canada, be received, the contents noted and filed;

AND THAT a copy of this letter be forwarded to the UBCM.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor P. Kent

Secd. Councillor S. Jackson

THAT the September 19, 2000 report from the City Treasurer, regarding the status of capital projects for 2000, be received, the contents noted and filed.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor M. Lukaitis

THAT the "City of Duncan Exemption from Taxation Bylaw No. 1905, 2000" be reconsidered, finally passed and adopted.

Carried.

For consideration were the following items:

• Letter dated September 11, 2000 from the DBIAS

• Memo's dated September 13 and 21 from the Public Works Superintendent.

Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell

Secd. Councillor P. Kent

THAT Council agree to immediately install the light, base and pole, we have in stock, in the Station Street Park for a cost of $3,100.00 (including materials, labour and equipment) as requested in the September 11, 2000 letter from the Duncan Business Improvement Area Society;

AND THAT the requested light for the Art Alleyway be included in the 2001 Budget for consideration.

Carried.

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT the Council of the City of Duncan resolve into Committee of the Whole (i.e. Special Meeting) to discuss legal issues;

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

Carried.

At 7:50 p.m., City Council resolved into Special Meeting.

At 8:45 p.m., the following Motion was PUT:

Movd. Councillor S. Jackson

Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell

THAT the Special Meeting of City Council rise;

AND THAT this meeting of City Council do now adjourn.

Carried.

Michael Coleman

Paul Douville