As the world adjusts to the pandemic conditions Bowen Island Municipality is getting back to business like temporary use permits and fire department core reviews.
This week the regular council meeting is at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 on the video conferencing platform Zoom. The link to the Zoom meeting is available in the council agenda.
To speak in the public comments section, email [email protected] before 6:15 p.m. with the subject line as “Public Comment” and include in the body your name (first and last), telephone number and topic or agenda item (this is instead of the sign-up sheet that’s usually available before the council meeting.)
“We ask that you respect the time limit allotted by the Mayor and once finished to please mute your microphone and turn off your camera,” says the BIM website.
This week’s council agenda is quite full:
Council will consider lowering the property tax increase (see that story here).
Dave Mitchell and Associates will present the findings of the core services review of the fire department.
Council had been set to decide whether or not to issue Island Discovery Learning Community a temporary use permit for Evergreen Hall. However, a lawyer hired by Deep Bay residents sent a letter to BIM asserting that issuing a TUP would not be in compliance with the Local Government Act as the act says that TUPs may only be issued in designated areas and the island’s Official Community Plan doesn’t make an explicit designation. A staff report from Daniel Martin, manager of planning and development says that the lawyer may be right. “While Bowen’s OCP has been in place since adoption in 2010, and many temporary use permits have been issued in that period, there is no area designated for their use in the OCP,” says Martin. Martin recommends that council defer consideration of IDLC’s TUP and direct staff to bring forward an amendment to the OCP so that BIM may once again issue TUPs.
BIM will also receive the housing needs report and an update on the turf field replacement.
For council super-keeners, councillors and mayor will hear the results of phase one of the community economic development plan at 4 p.m. in a committee of the whole meeting.
