The Inaugural Statutory Meeting of City Council was held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC at 7:30 p.m., December 2, 2002. Present: Mayor Michael G. Coleman; Councillors Mike Caljouw, Jenny Farkas, Sharon Jackson, Phil Kent, Geoff Maxwell and Ken Newcomb. Also Present: Paul Douville, City Administrator and approximately 100 invited guests.
Chair and Prayer	Hugh Armstrong, Barrister & Solicitor and Chair of the Cowichan Bar Association, Chaired the first portion of the meeting. Mr. Armstrong called upon Reverend Kerry McIntyre to open the meeting with a prayer. Mr. Armstrong then gave one rap with the gavel, requested all to be seated and indicated that Mr. Douville would now administer the Oaths of Office and Allegiance to the newly elected members of Council.
Oaths of Office and Allegiance	Mr. Armstrong invited Mayor-elect Michael G. Coleman to the front of the Chamber and the City Administrator, Paul Douville, administered the Oaths of Office and Allegiance.
	Mr. Armstrong then invited Councillors-elect Mike Caljouw, Jenny Farkas, Sharon Jackson, Phil Kent, Geoff Maxwell and Ken Newcomb to the front of the Chamber and the City Administrator, Paul Douville, administered the Oaths of Office and Allegiance. A rousing applause was given to the 2003-2005 City Council members.
Charges to the Elected Officials	Mr. Hugh Armstrong delivered charges to the Mayor & Council stressing the importance and responsibilities of their offices and their obligations to the taxpayers of the City of Duncan. He congratulated them on their elections and encouraged them to be fair, listen to all divergent views, avoid conflicts of interest, be patience and make decisions in the best interest of the community as a whole. Mr. Armstrong suggested that their commitment must be tempered with compassion and they must work together in good faith. He thanked the Mayor and Council for the leadership role that they provide in the community and wished them well in their endeavours in the coming year. A short recess was then held and the City Administrator subsequently announced: "Will everyone please stand – his Worship Mayor Coleman will now officiate at the first meeting of the new City Council".
	Mayor Coleman then gave one rap of the gavel and requested all to be seated.
Awarding of City of Duncan Perpetual Trophy for Sportsmanship and Excellence for 2002 (Stu Pitts)	Councillor Geoff Maxwell presented the Perpetual Trophy for Sportsmanship and Excellence to Stu Pitts for 2002. Always community minded, Stu joined the Jaycees in Nelson in 1964, the Kinsmen in Port Alberni in 1968 and the Kiwanis in Duncan where he initiated the flower planting along the Trans Canada Highway. In 1988, Stu was awarded the Celebration 88 Certificate by the Mayor's Office for his hard work, determination and dedication to the community.
	As a devoted father, Stu is a constant supporter of his children's hobbies and sports interests and became an important fixture at the slo-pitch games and fundraisers. Becoming active in the Cowichan Sportsplex, Stu spends most of his spare time volunteering at the concession. With his determination and the many donations from local businesses and volunteers, Stu has built a first class concession of which he is very proud. He does not like to be in the spotlight, but Stu manages to accomplish just about anything he puts his mind to from behind the scenes.
	Mr. Pitts thanked the Mayor and Council for this wonderful award.
Awarding of the Cowichan News Leader Arts Trophy for 2002 (Mark Ridewood)	Councillor Ken Newcomb presented the Cowichan News Leader Arts Trophy to Mark Ridewood for 2002. Mr. Ridewood was not in attendance this evening and will receive a formal presentation from Council at the Council meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m., December 9, 2002.
	Mark Ridewood is a Duncan actor, thespian and volunteer. He has been a member of the Cowichan Musical Society for years, acting in many of the troupe's production. Not content to merely appear in those productions, Mr. Ridewood, a Millwright at the Crofton Mill, recycles materials of all kinds and makes the Cowichan Musical Society's lavish sets. His sets for February 2002 Guys & Dolls production were recognized by many viewers as among the best ever created for a Cowichan Musical Society show.
	Mark Ridewood is also a drummer with the Devon Bailey Big Band and sings with the Cowichan Philharmonic choir. His latest volunteer effort was building riser seating for the Mercury Theatre in time for use during the Cowichan Fringe Festival 2002.
Business Session	Mayor Coleman then directed the business session of the meeting.
Dates of Regular Council Meetings	Movd. Councillor M. Caljouw Secd. Councillor S. Jackson THAT the meetings of the City Council for the year 2003, after the Inaugural Meeting of December 2, 2002, be held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the hour of 7:30 p.m. unless such Monday shall be a Public Holiday in which case the City Council shall meet at the same hour the next day which is not a Civic or Public Holiday; AND THAT Council meetings not be held on the fourth Mondays of July, August and December. Carried.
Cheque Signing Authority	Movd. Councillor P. Kent Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell THAT the signing authority of the City of Duncan be as follows: (a) all cheques drawn on the City Treasury shall be signed by the Mayor or Deputy Mayor AND by the City Treasurer or Deputy City Treasurer; (b) all cheques drawn on the City Payroll Account shall be signed by the City Treasurer or the Deputy City Treasurer; (c) all transfer of funds into the Payroll Account and between all other City Funds shall be signed by the Mayor or Deputy Mayor AND by the City Treasurer or Deputy City Treasurer; (d) all Promissory Notes for temporary bank loans shall be signed by the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, the Chairman of the Finance Committee AND by the City Treasurer or Deputy City Treasurer; AND THAT signatures referred to in Clauses (a), (b), and (c) above may be reproduced by mechanical reproduction, except for cheques and transfers in excess of $10,000.00 each of which must bear two manual signatures; AND THAT the City Administrator be authorized to vote for the Board of Directors of Island Savings Credit Union. Carried.
Appointment of Standing Committees	Movd. Councillor K. Newcomb Secd. Councillor J. Farkas THAT the Report on the Standing Committees for the year 2002, as presented by His Worship the Mayor, be received. Carried.
Appointment of City Council Members on the Cowichan Valley Regional District Board	Movd. Councillor G. Maxwell Secd. Councillor M. Caljouw THAT Mayor M.G. Coleman be appointed as the City of Duncan’s Director on the Cowichan Valley Regional District Board and Councillor M. Caljouw as the Alternate Director. Carried.
Appointment of City Council Members on Various Committees	Movd. Councillor P. Kent Secd. Councillor J. Farkas THAT the report on the Various Council Appointments for 2002, as presented by His Worship the Mayor, be received. Carried.
Appointment of Auditors	Movd. Councillor S. Jackson Secd. Councillor K. Newcomb THAT Hayes Stewart Little & Co, Chartered Accountants, be appointed auditors for the year 2003. Carried.
Appointment of City Members on the Cowichan Community Centre Commission	Movd. Councillor M. Caljouw Secd. Councillor G. Maxwell THAT Councillors G. Maxwell and K. Newcomb be the City of Duncan Directors on the Cowichan Community Centre Commission. Carried.
Inaugural Address	Mayor Coleman then delivered his Inaugural Address. Among his remarks, Mayor Coleman welcomed Freeman Art Mann and the elected officials from the District of North Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District Board of Directors. He noted the recent passing of Freeman Pres Bruce and indicated that all our lives were enriched by having Mr. Bruce among us. He expressed appreciation to Hugh Armstrong, Reverend Kerry McIntyre and Constables Gabriella Prommer and Mike Pollock for their participation in this ceremony.
	Mayor Coleman then highlighted the following items: He noted there is a Civic Renaissance underway with the completion of the Downtown Neighbourhood Revitalization Committee Report, the move of the Duncan Farmer's Market into the downtown core, the new CVRD office building and the beautiful and successful completion of the new City Square. He noted the ongoing good relations with the Cowichan Tribes and indicated that it bodes well for mutual planning and development. He referenced the November 16, 2002 election at which 6 members of Council were re-elected (Mayor Coleman by acclamation) and he welcomed new Councillor Jenny Farkas. He expressed much appreciation to Councillor Martin Lukaitis, who he indicated served the citizens of the City of Duncan honorably and well for over 35 years. Councillor Lukaitis was in attendance and received a rousing applause from everyone present. He said Summer Festival 2002 was highly successful and was celebrated in conjunction with the 100^th Anniversary of the Duncan Volunteer Fire Department. He indicated that City Council will be dealing with many complex planning and policy issues in the coming 3 years (i.e. New Community Charter and policing and transitional costs). Downtown redevelopment and development of the broader community are high objectives of the new Council.
	Mayor Coleman then highlighted the Standing Committee appointments and noted in particular the new Standing Committee entitled "Communications" to be chaired by Councillor Sharon Jackson. Mayor Coleman extended commendations to the Duncan Volunteer Fire Department and all City staff for their dedication and professionalism.
	In closing, Mayor Coleman said that he always takes pride in the sense of community in Duncan and that Council will continue to respect the public trust given to them and deal with finances in a wise and fair manner. He said Council will work together for common goals and extended appreciation to everyone present for their attendance.
Presentation - Scroll of Honour Recipient for 2002 (former Cowichan Tribes Chief and City Alderman Dennis Alphonse)	Mayor Coleman announced that former Cowichan Tribes Chief and Alderman Dennis Alphonse will be the designee for the Scroll of Honour for 2002. A resume of Dennis Alphonse's contribution of over 50 years for the betterment of the Cowichan Community is available in the City records. It was specifically noted that he served as Cowichan Tribes' Chief from 1973 to 1975 and 1978 to 1991. He was a Tribe's Councillor from 1991 to 1997. He served as a City of Duncan Alderman for two years. As Chief, he negotiated development of the Duncan Mall and the Village Green Mall on Band land. He was also involved in talks to build Malaspina University-College on Tribe's property and the establishment of the Iiyus Stluliqul Nursery-Kindergarten School, the Si'em Le'lum Gymnasium, the Cowichan Fish Hatchery, Khowutzun Mustimuhw Contractors, Khowutzun Heritage Centre and Khowutzun Forestry Services, many of which provided jobs for his people.Mayor Coleman then presented a framed certificate to Dennis Alphonse and Mr. Alphonse eloquently and humorously thanked the Mayor and Council for this tremendous recognition.
Adjournment	The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
	His Worship Mayor Coleman invited all guests to a reception being held in the Duncan Fire Hall following this meeting.
	____________________ Mayor M.G. Coleman ____________________ Paul Douville City Administrator