The Regular Meeting of City Council was held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC at 7:30 p.m., February 25, 2002.
	Present: Mayor Michael Coleman; Councillors Mike Caljouw, Sharon Jackson, Phil Kent, Martin Lukaitis and Geoff Maxwell. Also Present: Paul Douville, City Administrator. Absent With Prior Notice: Councillor Ken Newcomb.
	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 M. Caljouw THAT the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of City Council held on February 11, 2002 be adopted. Carried.
	Communications
2002 Islands Folk Festival	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor P. Kent THAT the Council of the City of Duncan authorize the Cowichan Folk Guild to display their banner, regarding the 2002 Island Folk Festival, from the banner poles adjacent to the east-side of the Trans Canada Highway and south of the Cowichan River July 19 - 30, 2002 as requested in their February 1, 2002 letter; AND THAT their grant request be referred to the 2002 Budget Review Committee; AND THAT the Cowichan Folk Guild be advised that the City of Duncan no longer owns any tents and suggests they contact the Chesterfield Sports Society to inquire of same. Carried.
Arts & Cultural Highway - Information Session	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell THAT the February 7, 2002 letter from the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce, regarding the March 6, 2002 Information Session on the "Arts & Cultural Highway" be received, the contents noted and filed. Carried.
CUPE BC - Drinking Water Legislation Review	For consideration was a letter dated February 7, 2002 from the BC Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Movd. Councillor M. Lukaitis Secd. Councillor S. Jackson THAT the Council of the City of Duncan urge the Provincial Government to accept the recommendations of the Drinking Water Review Panel's Interim Report and to refrain from passing any legislation that would compromise public ownership and control of water. Carried.
Recreational Component of Public Forests	For consideration was a letter dated February 8, 2002 from the Comox-Strathcona Regional District. Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell THAT the Council of the City of Duncan support the long-standing mandate of the Ministry of Forests to manage the recreational component of our public forests, including trails, recreational campsites, visual qualities and accessibility; AND THAT Council request that the Ministry of Forests continue to insure that these items are included in their mandate. Carried.
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor P. Kent THAT April 2002 be proclaimed “Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month” as requested in the February 12, 2002 letter from the British Columbia Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse. Carried.
Kiwanis Antiques Appraisal Show	Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell Secd. Councillor P. Kent THAT the Council of the City of Duncan authorize the display of the "Kiwanis Antiques Appraisal Show" banner from the banner poles adjacent to the east-side of the Trans Canada Highway and south of the Cowichan River from May 27 – June 8, 2002 as requested in the February 22, 2002 letter from the Duncan Kiwanis Club. Carried.
	Reports of Standing Committees
	Public Safety Committee
Raves & Drugs	Councillor Jackson reported that the RCMP are holding an information workshop at Mt. Prevost School on the evening of February 26, 2002 to discuss raves and the related use of illegal drugs.
	Fire Committee
Fire Department – 100^th Anniversary	Councillor Caljouw reported that he recently attended a meeting of the organizing committee of the Duncan Volunteer Fire Department for their 100^th Anniversary celebration. He said they intend to have a substantial antique fire truck parade. He said they are also seeking photographs of fires and related issues dating from 1902 onward. He said that this event will be a great community celebration.
	Reports of Special Committees
Miscellaneous	Councillor Maxwell presented City Council with a plaque from the Cowichan Valley Boy Scouts, which he recently received at the appreciation ceremony. He said at this ceremony they also conducted a fundraiser for the food bank and managed to collect a considerable amount of non-perishable food items.
Round Table – Future of Rail on Vancouver Island	Councillor Kent reported that the Round Table on the Future of Rail on Vancouver Island met at the first of two scheduled meetings on February 21, 2002. The second meeting is scheduled at the Quw'utsun' Cultural and Convention Centre in Duncan on March 5. He said that representatives of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Rail America, CP Rail, E & N Rail and the Association of Vancouver Island & Coastal Communities were present along with the Honourable Judith Reid, BC Minister of Transportation and Highways, Chief Harvey Alphonse of the Cowichan Tribes and others.
	The stakeholders at the Round Table session agreed that every effort must be made to maintain the current infrastructure and operations while new approaches are being developed. The Round Table participants agreed that to insure that this potential is maintained, a number of steps must be taken in the very near future:
	· First, the rail infrastructure must be maintained. To this end, CPR and Rail America have committed to leaving the north south rail asset in place and undisturbed until at least July 15, 2002.
	· Discussions on the east west line from Port Alberni to Parksville are being pursued by Rail America, CPR, Norske Canada and representatives of the Municipality of Port Alberni.
	· Second, the Round Table participants agreed to strike three task groups to consider the following: - How to maintain the remaining freight operation until July 15, 2002 - How to continue the passenger rail service until July 15, 2002 - How to attract the interim financial support needed to insure that the services are maintained until July 15, 2002
	Councillor Kent further reported that the Round Table participants will continue to develop a new vision and new approaches that will be considered at the next meeting in Duncan on March 5.
	Unfinished Business
City Square Donor Recognition Program	Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell Secd. Councillor M. Caljouw THAT the letter dated February 20, 2002 from Cloghesy & Doak Ltd. regarding the proposed Duncan City Square Donor Recognition Program, be referred to the Parks & Recreation Committee. Carried.
Disabled Persons Vehicle Parking	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell THAT in response to the February 11, 2002 letter from the Cowichan Valley Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Council advise of the following items:
	· Disabled vehicle operators displaying disabled placards from their rear-view mirrors can park free-of-charge for 3 hours in all designated disabled persons parking stalls.
	· $15.00 per month permits allow disabled vehicle operators to park in all 2-hour zones for unlimited periods of time.
	· For short-term programs provided by various organizations for disabled people, free temporary parking passes can be secured from the City Administrator.
	· The regulation of parking is necessary in all major commercial cores. Carried.
Softwood Lumber Trade	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor M. Caljouw THAT the following items of correspondence regarding the Softwood Lumber Trade issue, be received, the contents noted and filed:
	· Letters dated January 17 and February 13, 2002 to the Right Honourable Jean Chretien and from the Minister of International Trade. · Letters dated January 17 and February 19, 2002 to and from B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell. Carried.
Special Meeting	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell THAT the Council of the City of Duncan resolve into Special Meeting (Committee of the Whole) to discuss personnel and property issues; AND THAT persons other than Council Members and the City Administrator be excluded from this meeting (Section 242.3 – Local Government Act). Carried.
	At 7:51 p.m., City Council resolved into Special Meeting.
	At 8:30 p.m., the following Motion was PUT:
	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor M. Caljouw THAT the Special Meeting of City Council rise; AND THAT this meeting do now adjourn. Carried.
	Michael Coleman Mayor Paul Douville City Administrator