THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF VERNON

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL

Monday, January 13, 2025 at 8:40 A.m. - 9:40 A.m.

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER

3400 30 Street, Vernon BC

Mayor and Council Members Present:

• Mayor V. Cumming
• T. Durning
• K. Fehr
• K. Gares
• B. Guy
• A. Mund

Mayor and Council Members Absent:

• B. Quiring

Administration Present:

• P. Weeber, Chief Administrative Officer
• D. Lind, Chief, Fire Rescue Services
• E. Hamming, Director, Financial Services
• J. Blood, Director, Recreation Services
• K. Poole, Director, Corporate Administration
• T. Barton, Director, Planning and Community Services
• S. Wood, Corporate Officer
• C. Isles, Deputy Corporate Officer
• C. Ovens, General Manager, Public Works
• R. Nuriel, General Manager, City Planning
• A. Huisken, Active Transportation Planner
• C. Wiltsie, Environmental Planning Assistant

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1.

CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER

Mayor Cumming called the meeting to order at 8:44 am.

As Mayor of the City of Vernon, and in the spirit of this gathering, I recognize the City of Vernon is located in the traditional territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation.

1.a

Move to Committee of the Whole

• Moved by: Councillor Mund
  Seconded by: Councillor Gares

  THAT Council move to the Committee of the Whole meeting.

  CARRIED

2.

RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING AND RESOLUTION TO CLOSE MEETING

Mayor Cumming reconvened the Regular meeting at 8:58 am and requested a motion to move to In Camera.

• Moved by: Councillor Fehr
  Seconded by: Councillor Durning

  THAT the meeting be closed to the public in accordance with Section 90 (1) of the Community Charter as follows:

  (e) the acquisition, disposition or expropriation of land or improvements, if the Council considers that disclosure could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality;

  (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality; and

  (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the Council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.

  CARRIED
• Mayor Cumming reconvened the Regular meeting at 10:25 am and recessed until 1:30 pm.

3.

RECONVENE TO OPEN COUNCIL AT 1:30 PM

Mayor Cumming called the Regular meeting back to order at 1:30 pm.

As Mayor of the City of Vernon, and in the spirit of this gathering, I recognize the City of Vernon is located in the traditional territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation.

3.a

Agenda

• Moved by: Councillor Gares
  Seconded by: Councillor Mund

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting Agenda of January 13, 2025 be adopted.

  CARRIED

3.b

Adoption of Minutes and Receipt of Committee of the Whole

• Moved by: Councillor Gares
  Seconded by: Councillor Fehr

  THAT the Regular Council Meeting Minutes of December 9, 2024 be adopted;

  AND FURTHER, that the Public Hearing Minutes of December 9, 2024 be adopted;

  AND FURTHER, that the Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes of December 9, 2024 be received.

  CARRIED

4.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

5.

GENERAL MATTERS

5.a

Reconsideration of DVP00658 - Summerwind Estates Strata Council - Scott Road

The Mayor asked the applicant if they would like to speak to their request for reconsideration.

C. Abram, on behalf of the Summerwind Estates strata council (the applicant), presented their request for reconsideration which included:

• rationale to remove cedar hedges to mitigate fire risk and firesmart the complex;
• the cedars are located along the back yards of the strata properties along Scott Road;
• concern that removing hedges will result in a loss of privacy and security;
• proposed fence height would be half that of the existing cedars and the proposal is to plant pockets between fence panels to soften the esthetics;
• other complexes and single family homes in the area have 2m fences on their backyards; and
• lower back yard fences on one side of the complex will create inequity among owners in terms of privacy and security.

Council asked Administration to clarify the heights of neighbouring fences and if they are located in the front or back yards. Scott Road is designated the front yard of the property, however, the strata design is configured with all the houses facing inwards.

• Moved by: Councillor Mund
  Seconded by: Councillor Gares

  THAT Council, upon reconsideration, approves the Minor Development Variance Permit Application DVP00658, to vary Section 6.0 Landscaping and Screening of Zoning Bylaw 6000 for KAS3218, 100 Palmer Road, as follows:
  (a)    Section 6.5.1.1, height of a fence situated along a lot line within a front setback from 1.2 m to 2.0 m.

  Opposed (3)

  Mayor Cumming, Councillor Fehr, and Councillor Guy

  DEFEATED (3 to 3)

6.

COUNCIL INQUIRIES

7.

ADMINISTRATION UPDATES

• Moved by: Councillor Durning
  Seconded by: Councillor Fehr

  THAT Council receive the Administration Updates dated January 13, 2025 for information.

  CARRIED

8.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

9.

MATTERS REFERRED

9.a

Declassified Motion from the In Camera Meeting Held October 28, 2024

9.a.1

Restorative Justice

THAT Council receive the letter dated October 17, 2024 from the Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon & District (CMHA) requesting a five year contract to provide Restorative Justice services to the City of Vernon as attached to the report titled “Restorative Justice Contract” dated October 22, 2024 and respectfully submitted by the Director, Corporate Administration;

AND FURTHER, that Council endorse a one year contract with two one year options, with the CMHA to provide Restorative Justice services for the City of Vernon in the amount of $44,858 (inclusive of GST);

AND FURTHER, that Council authorize Administration to execute the contract upon acceptance by the CMHA;

AND FURTHER, that Council declassify the resolution upon execution by both parties of the subject contract.

9.b

Declassified Motion from the In Camera Meeting held November 25, 2024

9.b.1

Kalamalka Lakeview Area Emergency Services Agreement Renewal (7320-08)

THAT Council authorize the Mayor and Corporate Officer to execute the Kalamalka Lakeview Area Emergency Services Agreement with the Regional District of North Okanagan, for the term January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029, with an annual fee of :$46,468 (2025), $48,791 (2026), $51,231 (2027), $53,792 (2028) and $56,482 (2029);

AND FURTHER, that Council declassify the resolution and remove from In Camera, once the agreement has been executed by all parties. 

9.c

Declassified Motion from the In Camera Meeting Held December 9, 2024

9.c.1

Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association Agreement Expiry (7010-03)

THAT Council receive for information the memorandum titled “Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association (VVFA) Agreement Expiry” dated November 26, 2024 and respectfully submitted by Director, Fire Rescue Services;

AND FURTHER, that Council support not renewing the Agreement with the VVFA following its expiration on December 31, 2025;

AND FURTHER, that Council and Vernon Fire Rescue Services thank all past and present members of the VVFA for their contributions to the department and to the community;

AND FURTHER, that Council declassify the resolution upon providing written notice to the VVFA of the City’s intention to not renew the Agreement.

10.

NEW BUSINESS

10.a

Bank Signing Authorities (1690-02)

• Moved by: Councillor Gares
  Seconded by: Councillor Durning

  THAT Council receive the memorandum titled "Bank Signing Authorities" dated January 3, 2025 and respectfully submitted by the Manager, Financial Operations;

  AND FURTHER, that all cheques and electronic fund transfers be signed/authorized on behalf of the City by any two of the authorized positions:

  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • Director, Financial Services
  • Manager, Financial Planning and Reporting
  • Manager, Financial Operations
  • Specialist, Financial Operations
  • Financial Analyst
  • Accountant
  • Director, Human Resources

  AND FURTHER, that any two of the Director, Financial Services, the Manager, Financial Planning and Reporting, the Manager, Financial Operations and the Specialist, Financial Operations have authority to transfer City funds between the various City bank and investment accounts.  

  CARRIED

10.b

2025 Application to Fly the Vernon Comic Con Flag (0550-01)

• Moved by: Councillor Mund
  Seconded by: Councillor Durning

  THAT Council receive the memorandum titled "2025 Application to Fly the Vernon Comic Con Flag" dated December 19, 2024 and respectfully submitted by the Manager, Legislative Services;

  AND FURTHER, that Council approve flying the Vernon Comic Con flag on the Community Flag Pole, as provided by the Corporate Flag Policy, from April 3 to May 5, 2025.  

  CARRIED

10.c

Council Code of Responsible Conduct Policy - Annual Review (0530-13)

• Moved by: Councillor Durning
  Seconded by: Councillor Guy

  THAT Council receive for information the memorandum titled "Council Code of Responsible Conduct - Annual Review" dated December 17, 2024 and respectfully submitted by the Manager, Legislative Services;

  AND FURTHER, that Council approve the amendments to the Council Code of Responsible Conduct Policy as presented with the additional of 'as stated in the British Columbia Human Rights Code' following prohibited grounds on page 7.

  CARRIED

11.

LEGISLATIVE MATTERS

11.a

Bylaw 6030 - 2025-2029 Financial Plan

• Moved by: Councillor Mund
  Seconded by: Councillor Guy

  THAT Council receive for information the memorandum titled "City of Vernon 2025 - 2029 Financial Plan Bylaw 6030, 2025" dated January 6, 2025 submitted by the Director, Financial Services. 

  CARRIED
• Moved by: Councillor Gares
  Seconded by: Councillor Guy

  THAT Bylaw 6030, "City of Vernon 2025 - 2029 Financial Plan Bylaw 6030, 2025", a bylaw to adopt a Financial Plan for a five-year period for the years 2025 to 2029, be read a first, second and third time.

  CARRIED

11.b

Bylaw 6013 - OCP Amendment Bylaw - Section 26 Exemptions for Required DP

• Moved by: Councillor Guy
  Seconded by: Councillor Fehr

  THAT Bylaw 6013, "Official Community Plan (Development Permit Exemptions for Multi-Unit Housing and Riparian Assessment Areas) Amendment Bylaw 6013, 2024", a bylaw to amend Section 26.0 Development Permit Areas (All Areas), be adopted. 

  CARRIED

12.

COUNCIL INFORMATION UPDATES

12.a

Mayor and Councillors Reports

All members in attendance provided an update on their activities and meetings attended. 

13.

INFORMATION ITEMS

13.a

Correspondence

13.a.1

Letter dated December 16, 2024 from the Ministry of Finance - Speculation and Vacancy Tax Consultation Invitation

The Mayor will draft a response and circulate to Council for review.

13.a.2

Letter dated January 3, 2025 from Upper Room Mission - Request for Letter of Support

• Moved by: Councillor Fehr
  Seconded by: Councillor Gares

  THAT Council provide a letter of support to the Upper Room Mission for their application to BC Housing for year-round dry shelter funding. 

  CARRIED

13.b

Minutes from Council Committees

13.b.1

Economic Development Advisory Committee - October 17, 2024

14.

CLOSE OF MEETING

The Regular Council meeting adjourned at 2:32 pm.