Thetis Island Local Trust Committee community information meeting, February 3, 2026

[0:00:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): Morning, everyone. Just before we get started, I want to pause for a bit and see if the third

[0:00:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): member of our local trust committee, Peter Luckham, is able to join. I've just sent him a

[0:00:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): text, so we'll just wait another minute.

[0:00:31] Voice 3: Hello? Yeah, Lisa? I believe I saw an email saying he

[0:00:36] Voice 3: was coming in a bit later. Isn't that correct?

[0:00:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): No, he's supposed to be coming in for 9.30 to

[0:00:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): of 1030 it's the 1030 to 1115 pause that he'll have to step out

[0:00:48] Voice 7: understood thank you well we can

[0:00:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): get started with introductions perhaps all right uh good morning and thank you all for joining us

[0:01:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): today for this electronic meeting of the Thetis Island local trust committee it is Tuesday February

[0:01:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): February 3rd, 2026, and we always want to begin this meeting and all of our work by acknowledging

[0:01:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): that we are very grateful to be able to gather today in locations across the traditional territory

[0:01:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): of the Hul'q'umi'num speaking Coast Salish peoples, in particular in Lai'ax'in First Nation

[0:01:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): and Penelakut tribes the territory that the Thetis Local Trust Committee is working in

[0:01:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): and so we are grateful. I want to continually acknowledge the enduring relationship

[0:01:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): and stewardship of Coast Salish peoples on these islands since time immemorial. I'm Toby Elliott

[0:02:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): elected on Gabriela Island and chair of the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee.

[0:02:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): I'm joined by your two local trustees, Trustee Ken Hunter and Trustee Peter Luckham, and

[0:02:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): together we make up your local trust committee.

[0:02:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): Good morning, thanks for joining us.

[0:02:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): We are also joined by a number of staff here today, so I'll just make a quick round of

[0:02:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): introductions.

[0:02:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): Regional Planning Manager Renee Jamarat, hello, Planner Margot Amaitis, Senior Policy

[0:02:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): policy advisor, Joe Elliott, policy advisor, sorry, senior Indigenous relations advisor,

[0:02:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): my apologies, Joe Elliott, senior policy advisor, Jason Yeomans, manager of bylaw enforcement and

[0:02:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): compliance, Warren Dingman, and our minute taker and meeting facilitator, Lisa Millard. So thank

[0:02:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): you all for supporting us in our meeting today. So this meeting is being live streamed and recorded

[0:03:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): for those who are unable to attend in person today.

[0:03:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): Recording will be available on the Islands Trust website

[0:03:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): within the next few days.

[0:03:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): This meeting is an official forum

[0:03:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): for your local trust committee to make decisions

[0:03:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): about land use planning matters

[0:03:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): and discuss relevant business.

[0:03:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): I also want to add that this is a place of employment

[0:03:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): and despite the fact that some of us

[0:03:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): are working in our homes,

[0:03:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): our staff have the right to a safe

[0:03:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): and respectful workplace.

[0:03:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): So we'll move to adoption of the agenda

[0:03:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): or approval of the agenda rather I'd like to suggest a few changes um trustee Luckham you

[0:03:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): have to step out at uh 10 30 is that still oh you're you're muted Peter

[0:03:52] Voice 5: I'm getting a lag here

[0:03:56] Voice 5: anybody

[0:04:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): else hearing he may be um frozen he's still on mute as well okay so my understanding

[0:04:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): is trustee luckham um had an unavoidable conflict and needs to step out at 10 30 to 11 15. so we're

[0:04:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): going to amend the agenda

[0:04:19] Voice 6: i

[0:04:20] Trustee Luckham: have to step out just before my microphone yeah we can

[0:04:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): hear you now

[0:04:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): okay good yeah so we're going to bring

[0:04:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): public comments period forward um so we'll still

[0:04:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): continue with item four community information meeting about the policy statement bylaw 183

[0:04:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): um and then go into we have a public comment period specifically for that and then we'll go

[0:04:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): into public comments generally about any matters um that are on our agenda today or important for

[0:05:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): the thetis island trustees to know or questions of staff and then we'll move into our reports minutes

[0:05:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): And we'll pause before item 10.3 so that Trustee Luckham can be back for that important consideration.

[0:05:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): Is that all right, everyone?

[0:05:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): We've approved the agenda as amended?

[0:05:28] Voice 17: Yes.

[0:05:30] Voice 17: Yes.

[0:05:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you.

[0:05:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay.

[0:05:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): So let's move into the planned presentation on the Policy Statement Bylaw 183.

[0:05:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): I just want to start this off by apologizing for the mistake in scheduling this meeting.

[0:05:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): We were supposed to have this presentation on November 4th, and due to strike action

[0:06:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): and staff not being in the offices and then a subsequent delay, we didn't manage to

[0:06:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): schedule this community information meeting before the um the close of the public comment period

[0:06:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): which was yesterday so i sincerely regret that um to the thetis local trust committee and

[0:06:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): islanders um that was definitely a mistake something that was missed in terms of an error

[0:06:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): but we're going to consider our referral response and so eager to hear from community members

[0:06:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): covers what you think of the draft policy statement. Turn it over to you, Jason. Take it

[0:06:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): away.

[0:06:45] Voice 2: Thank you, Chair Elliott. Can you hear me all right? Okay. Also, I'm going to have to ask

[0:06:51] Voice 2: for a few minutes reprieve here because my computer has chosen this moment to stop functioning aside

[0:06:56] Voice 2: from my participation in this meeting. So I need to actually log out, restart my computer and come

[0:07:02] Voice 2: back in. So if you can

[0:07:03] Voice 2: find a way to shuffle things around for a few minutes, I would appreciate that

[0:07:06] Voice 2: and i'll be back with you shortly no

[0:07:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): problem thanks okay so we did get some correspondence

[0:07:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): about this um the plan is to have a presentation of the policy statement followed by question and

[0:07:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): answer period and then public comments and so um the period of public consultation has been open

[0:07:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): for six months I think since August and there were planned meet public

[0:07:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): information meetings but each LTC chose what it felt would be would best serve

[0:07:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): the community and the thetis local trust committee chose a special presentation

[0:07:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): at a regular business meeting not a special standalone community meeting but

[0:07:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): But it would have been much better to have this in person.

[0:08:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): And again, this was just the timing and the scheduling of this meeting, which was done almost a year in advance.

[0:08:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): So, again, we apologize for the timing.

[0:08:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): It's very unfortunate.

[0:08:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): Chair Elliott, RPM Gem right here.

[0:08:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): I wanted to know if, depending on how long, I wasn't sure how long Planner Human said he would be in getting his information, his laptop started, if there's time you could perhaps move to the minutes if there isn't any information there to discuss.

[0:08:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): or if anything brief that might be something you can also address too while we're waiting for

[0:08:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): signing humans to come back online sure um if not um we can just pause yeah we can move to

[0:09:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): adopting minutes that would be fine we've got several uh one for adoption and two sets of

[0:09:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): minutes for information so item 7.1 on page four of our agenda are there any changes or amendments

[0:09:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): to the minutes i

[0:09:28] Trustee Luckham: have none great

[0:09:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): we'll take it by general consent that the minutes of september 2nd

[0:09:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): 2025 be adopted and then we've got our resolutions without medium report which has i believe just one

[0:09:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): item on it that was the cancellation of the November 4th business meeting and we have thank

[0:09:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): you the minutes of the Thetis Island of Advisory Planning Commission I did have a question about

[0:10:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): these um RPM Jamarat I'm not familiar with I've never seen members of the public attending and

[0:10:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): And speaking on an advisory planning commission, I thought those were typically just the appointed advisory planning commission members that could attend and sort of as representatives.

[0:10:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair, are you referring to the advisory planning commission many minutes from 2020 or 2024, the more recent ones?

[0:10:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): sorry 2020 oh there's two sets of advisory planning committee minutes one from back in 2020

[0:10:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): which was the last time the advisory planning committee was together so those minutes are back

[0:10:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): in front of the LTC to adopt and then the one dated the set dated January 18th 2024

[0:11:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): so just clarifying but I can share thank you no

[0:11:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): information you're right you're right but there

[0:11:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): There was another set of minutes, I thought, attached to the consideration of the land use bylaw or addendum.

[0:11:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): That may be for the minor project information.

[0:11:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah.

[0:11:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): So members of the public are welcome to attend those advisory planning committee meetings.

[0:11:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): However, they don't have a vote in the recommendations that are made to the LTC.

[0:11:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): The advisory planning committee members have a vote.

[0:11:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): so um the information captured um that we can um we can speak to um when it comes up in the agenda

[0:11:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): for the minor project is um captured in the minutes okay thank you i wanted to that was what

[0:11:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): i was referring to the january 13th minutes and that would be um the minor project agenda item

[0:11:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): 11.1 which is an addendum to the agenda thank you have we got jason not quite well perhaps we can

[0:12:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): move into um public comments through the

[0:12:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): chair um i just i wasn't um i didn't catch maybe we can

[0:12:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): confirm with uh lisa our minute taker if um the minutes for the two advisory planning committee

[0:12:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): committee meetings where um if

[0:12:33] Voice 5: there were any

[0:12:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): questions or received oh right um any questions

[0:12:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): therefore received yeah trustees sorry now i've lost my agenda well

[0:12:49] Trustee Luckham: perhaps i'll just jump in

[0:12:52] Trustee Luckham: these are uh older uh minutes at this point um but just want to express my gratitude for those

[0:12:58] Trustee Luckham: that served on the APC, and then there will be another set of minutes forthcoming, I'm presuming

[0:13:06] Trustee Luckham: here, associated with more recent referrals, because I've had conversations with APC members,

[0:13:14] Trustee Luckham: and again, expressing my gratitude for them providing us advice on topics that are of

[0:13:21] Trustee Luckham: interest to Thetis. We don't often refer things to them, and so it's important that when we do

[0:13:28] Trustee Luckham: that we have these conversations.

[0:13:31] Trustee Luckham: So just appreciate that volunteer body

[0:13:34] Trustee Luckham: from helping us with our decision-making.

[0:13:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that, Trustee Luck.

[0:13:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): And indeed, we are very grateful

[0:13:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): to you people who participate.

[0:13:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): How are you doing there, Jason?

[0:13:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay, you're back online?

[0:13:51] Voice 2: I am indeed a little Murphy's Law at work there.

[0:13:53] Voice 2: Apologies for that delay, folks.

[0:13:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): It happens, no problem.

[0:13:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): Go right ahead then.

[0:14:01] Voice 2: Oh, all right. Thank you, Chair. I'm just going to share my screen here. So bear with me while we do that. All right. Is everybody seeing on their screens the First Nations acknowledgement?

[0:14:21] Trustee Luckham: Yes.

[0:14:23] Voice 2: Okay, lovely. Thank you. Okay, good morning, folks. My name is Jason Yeomans. I'm a Senior Policy Advisor with the Islands Trust. I've been helping provide project management and policy development advice on the Policy Statement Amendment Project for the past year or so.

[0:14:43] Voice 2: I've worked for the Islands Trust since 2013. Until recently, I'd also lived on Salt Spring Island for a decade, so I know a little bit about the Islands Trust and about island life.

[0:14:54] Voice 2: I think before getting into the policy statement itself, I just want to provide a quick introduction

[0:15:01] Voice 2: to the work of the Islands Trust that generally I think needs to precede any discussion about

[0:15:07] Voice 2: the policy statement more generally. The Islands Trust is a special purpose government responsible

[0:15:12] Voice 2: for the planning and land use management decisions in the Islands Trust area, which is comprised of

[0:15:17] Voice 2: 13 major islands and more than 450 smaller islands and the surrounding waters in the

[0:15:21] Voice 2: Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound. The Islands Trust does its best to preserve and protect these

[0:15:26] Voice 2: 450 islands in the Salish Sea. These islands are grouped into 13 local trust areas, which each

[0:15:32] Voice 2: have their own local trust committee that makes land use decisions for that group of islands using

[0:15:36] Voice 2: the land use planning authorities that it has under Part 14 of the Local Government Act. There's

[0:15:42] Voice 2: also one island municipality, which is Bowen Island, which has a municipal council and all

[0:15:47] Voice 2: of the powers of a regular municipality, and it has two members that sit at the bigger trust

[0:15:51] Voice 2: Council table. When all 26 elected Islands Trust trustees come together, they do so as the Islands

[0:15:59] Voice 2: Trust Council to take into account planning for the Islands Trust region as a whole. The Islands

[0:16:05] Voice 2: Trust is a unique form of government, neither a municipality nor a regional district. Ultimately,

[0:16:10] Voice 2: it's a special type of government for a special place. The Islands Trust was created in 1974

[0:16:15] Voice 2: by the government of British Columbia to protect these islands and their unique ecosystems and

[0:16:21] Voice 2: lifestyles from the rampant overdevelopment that was starting to emerge at that time in the form

[0:16:25] Voice 2: of small lot subdivisions on several of the islands. The Islands Trust was established

[0:16:29] Voice 2: under the Islands Trust Act with a mandate or an object, as the legislation says,

[0:16:34] Voice 2: to preserve and protect the trust area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit

[0:16:39] Voice 2: of the residents of the trust area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with

[0:16:43] Voice 2: municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, First Nations, and other persons and

[0:16:49] Voice 2: organizations and the government of British Columbia. Within the Islands Trust Act, you will

[0:16:55] Voice 2: find Section 15, which states that the Trust Council must, by bylaw, adopt a trust policy

[0:17:01] Voice 2: statement that applies to the trust area. And the trust policy statement must be a general statement

[0:17:07] Voice 2: of the policies of the Trust Council to carry out the object of the trust, and that this policy

[0:17:12] Voice 2: statement may establish different policies for different parts of the trust area. The first

[0:17:18] Voice 2: Island's Trust Policy Statement was adopted in 1975. The current Island's Trust Policy Statement

[0:17:24] Voice 2: has been enforced since 1993. A lot has changed, not just in the Island's Trust area, but in Canada

[0:17:30] Voice 2: and the wider world since then. In 2019, Island's Trust Council decided it was time to update the

[0:17:35] Voice 2: Trust Policy Statement to better help the Island's Trust navigate today's challenges and seize

[0:17:41] Voice 2: tomorrow's opportunities. This slide here just shows sort of the policy hierarchy in the Island's

[0:17:47] Voice 2: Trust and where the policy statement fits into it. The policy statement is the highest level

[0:17:52] Voice 2: land use planning vision that the Islands Trust produces and from it flows all of the local

[0:18:00] Voice 2: bylaws that your various local trust committees including the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee

[0:18:04] Voice 2: develop. Official community plans that are developed on each island in the Islands Trust

[0:18:11] Voice 2: area must be consistent with the policy statement. Your zoning bylaws or your land use bylaws that

[0:18:17] Voice 2: or developed must be consistent with your official community plan, which in turn must be consistent

[0:18:22] Voice 2: with the policy statement. And then all of these come together, of course, to influence the changes

[0:18:27] Voice 2: in the landscape that you see around you. The Islands Trust policy statement serves a number

[0:18:37] Voice 2: of purposes within the Islands Trust. It should act as the foundation for strategic planning by

[0:18:43] Voice 2: Trust Council. So after the next round of local government elections in the fall of 2026,

[0:18:49] Voice 2: the new trust council may want to look to the island's trust policy statement

[0:18:53] Voice 2: to determine what its priorities should be

[0:18:55] Voice 2: and build a term-long work program

[0:18:57] Voice 2: around what the policy statement would indicate to be the goals of the organization

[0:19:02] Voice 2: it is a mechanism by which official community plans

[0:19:07] Voice 2: and regulatory bylaws that are developed on each island are assessed

[0:19:11] Voice 2: so when a local trust committee is amending its official community plan

[0:19:15] Voice 2: or when it's amending its land use bylaw

[0:19:18] Voice 2: those bylaws must go to the Islands Trust Executive Committee for a review and the lens

[0:19:23] Voice 2: through which the Islands Trust Executive Committee reviews those bylaws is the policy

[0:19:27] Voice 2: statement to ensure that local bylaws are not contrary to or at variance with the policy

[0:19:33] Voice 2: statement. The policy statement also forms the foundation of the types of intergovernmental

[0:19:38] Voice 2: relationships that the Islands Trust forms with federal agencies, with provincial agencies,

[0:19:43] Voice 2: with regional districts, with Indigenous governing bodies. When we look to enter into agreements

[0:19:48] Voice 2: with those organizations to determine how we're going to work together, the Islands Trust is

[0:19:54] Voice 2: always going to have an eye toward ensuring that those agreements are advancing the goals that are

[0:19:58] Voice 2: laid out in the policy statement. How will the Islands Trust policy statement impact you

[0:20:07] Voice 2: as a landowner on an island in the Islands Trust? In the short term, you're not going to notice any

[0:20:13] Voice 2: impact from a new policy statement unless you're applying to amend the Official Community Plan or

[0:20:18] Voice 2: the Land Use By-law as those documents apply to your land. So if you're thinking that you're going

[0:20:23] Voice 2: to make some large change to the uses that are currently permitted on your land, you're going

[0:20:28] Voice 2: to have to change the OCP or the Land Use By-law of the Local Trust Committee. And those changes

[0:20:35] Voice 2: in turn are going to have to be consistent with any new policy statement that's adopted by Trust

[0:20:40] Voice 2: Council. In the medium term, as a landowner, it's the expectation that over time, local trust

[0:20:47] Voice 2: committees, like the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee, are going to bring their official

[0:20:51] Voice 2: community plans and land use bylaws into consistency with the new policy statement.

[0:20:58] Voice 2: And so as local trust committees do that, as they amend their bylaws, this could result in more ways

[0:21:04] Voice 2: to use your land, or fewer ways to use your land, or different ways to use your land, depending on

[0:21:09] Voice 2: on how your local trust committee decides to update its local bylaws to bring them into

[0:21:14] Voice 2: alignment with the new policy statement. How will the policy statement impact you just as an island

[0:21:23] Voice 2: resident taking off your landowner hat and just somebody who lives on Fetus Island? In the short

[0:21:29] Voice 2: term, you will likely not see any impact unless your island's local trust committee moves very

[0:21:34] Voice 2: quickly to update its official community plan and land use bylaw to align with the policy statement.

[0:21:38] Voice 2: but even then changes to bylaws do not immediately cause something new to happen on the land right

[0:21:48] Voice 2: it's up to landowners to undertake changes to the land in ways that are consistent with local

[0:21:54] Voice 2: bylaws that are consistent with the policy statement in the medium term i think if the

[0:22:00] Voice 2: goals of this draft policy statement are realized you should notice a reduced pace of disturbance

[0:22:06] Voice 2: to characteristic island ecosystems due to the document's emphasis on protecting those

[0:22:10] Voice 2: characteristic ecosystems of the island's trust area, and potentially a greater range of housing

[0:22:16] Voice 2: options on the islands in the right places. Now, of course, we know that each island in the island's

[0:22:23] Voice 2: trust area is different and has different housing needs that your local trust committee is going to

[0:22:29] Voice 2: want to be responsive to. When Trust Council set out to amend the policy statement in 2019,

[0:22:44] Voice 2: they did so with an eye towards three particular themes. The first being reconciliation with

[0:22:50] Voice 2: Indigenous people, and this reflects a reconciliation declaration that Islands Trust

[0:22:55] Voice 2: Council made in 2019. There is an eye towards climate change, and this reflects the climate

[0:23:03] Voice 2: change emergency declaration that Trust Council declared in 2019. And this round of updates to

[0:23:09] Voice 2: the policy statement also reflects the housing challenges that we know to be occurring on the

[0:23:15] Voice 2: islands and reflects a workforce shortage and housing equity crisis that Trust Council has

[0:23:20] Voice 2: declared and is attempting to respond to through these revisions to the policy statement. I'm not

[0:23:31] Voice 2: sure how well this timeline graphic will display on your screens at home. The text is probably

[0:23:35] Voice 2: pretty small and in fact needs to be updated actually because I think we're moving this arrow

[0:23:40] Voice 2: over by one dial now. Trust Council gave first reading to the draft policy statement in July of

[0:23:48] Voice 2: 2025. Since then, we've been in a period, a six-month long period of engagement with communities

[0:23:55] Voice 2: that's included an online survey. Hard copies are also available for those who prefer to engage that

[0:24:01] Voice 2: way. We've been undertaking meetings like these, either electronically or in person, across the

[0:24:07] Voice 2: islands to ensure that community members have an opportunity to speak directly to their local

[0:24:13] Voice 2: elected officials about their feelings on the policy statement. And of course, Trust Council

[0:24:18] Voice 2: continues to receive correspondence about the project and those are all posted to the island's

[0:24:23] Voice 2: 2050 website. The formal engagement window has now closed. The survey closed on February 2nd.

[0:24:30] Voice 2: That doesn't mean that you can't still share your thoughts with Trust Council via correspondence.

[0:24:34] Voice 2: It just means that that correspondence is not going to be summarized and packaged together in a report to Trust Council that they'll be receiving in the coming months based on what we heard during the six-month window of engagement.

[0:24:49] Voice 2: Once staff report back to Trust Council with what we learned during this period of engagement, we'll come to them potentially with a suite of recommendations.

[0:24:56] Voice 2: recommendations. And of course, your trustees are going to come, I'm sure, with their own

[0:25:01] Voice 2: lists of revisions that they might want to see to the document. We'll present those to Trust

[0:25:06] Voice 2: Council and Trust Council will have the opportunity at that time to decide what it wants to do,

[0:25:10] Voice 2: whether it's to make revisions to the document or whether it wants to give further readings to the

[0:25:14] Voice 2: bylaw. All of this in the hopes that Trust Council may have the opportunity to adopt a new policy

[0:25:22] Voice 2: statement before the next round of local government elections, which take place in the fall of

[0:25:28] Voice 2: 2026.

[0:25:33] Voice 2: This is just a summary of the various phases of the project that have taken place up until

[0:25:38] Voice 2: this point.

[0:25:40] Voice 2: I won't say anything in particular about these other than all of the work that has led to

[0:25:46] Voice 2: where we are now is available on the Islands 2050 project webpage.

[0:25:50] Voice 2: And so if you want to pay a visit with that, down towards the bottom of the page is the

[0:25:53] Voice 2: project library with a bunch of drop-down accordion style menus where you can click

[0:25:58] Voice 2: through and hopefully find any information that you're looking for. If you're having a challenge

[0:26:03] Voice 2: or if you're not finding what you think should be on there, you can reach out to me and I can

[0:26:07] Voice 2: hopefully help you get to that. So what is in this new draft policy statement? There are three core

[0:26:19] Voice 2: elements. The first is a set of guiding principles. These are sort of overarching principles. It's

[0:26:28] Voice 2: expected that trust council and local trust committees are going to sort of keep in mind

[0:26:34] Voice 2: and use to inform the types of decisions that they make when they're looking to amend bylaws,

[0:26:43] Voice 2: either at the local level or at the federation-wide level. The draft policy statement contains

[0:26:48] Voice 2: directive policies. These are things that local trust committees and island municipalities must do.

[0:26:53] Voice 2: So the greater federation is telling local trust committees that these are the benchmarks

[0:26:59] Voice 2: marks they are expected to hit when they are amending their local bylaws. And then there are

[0:27:05] Voice 2: what we've called advisory policies. These are things that local trust committees and island

[0:27:10] Voice 2: municipalities should do, according to Trust Council. They reflect a range of topic areas

[0:27:16] Voice 2: that may not be within the direct authority or direct jurisdiction of a local trust committee,

[0:27:22] Voice 2: but that a local trust committee might have some influence over in the types of either

[0:27:28] Voice 2: their sort of political gestures that they could make or can factor into their own decision making

[0:27:33] Voice 2: when they are exercising their authorities, but they're not being required to do so by trust

[0:27:38] Voice 2: council. I just want to touch on a few of those few key parts of the three main themes of this

[0:27:48] Voice 2: policy statement update. The first of those being reconciliation. For those who have had an

[0:27:55] Voice 2: opportunity to review this draft policy statement, I think you will see that reconciliation is placed

[0:28:00] Voice 2: front and center at the forefront of what Trust Council is hoping to achieve through this draft

[0:28:08] Voice 2: and really ensure that policies align with the reconciliation declaration that Trust Council

[0:28:15] Voice 2: has previously made. So the very first guiding principle to which Trust Council and its local

[0:28:21] Voice 2: trust committees are expected to adhere is a policy that acknowledges and respects Indigenous

[0:28:25] Voice 2: rights, that there's a commitment to grow understanding of the history and legacy of

[0:28:29] Voice 2: colonialism in the island's trust area, to acknowledge and respect the rights of Indigenous

[0:28:33] Voice 2: peoples, and to work together with Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous knowledge

[0:28:37] Voice 2: holders to preserve and protect culturally significant areas, sites, and species.

[0:28:41] Voice 2: And additionally, there is a commitment to prioritize environmental and Indigenous cultural

[0:28:45] Voice 2: heritage protection, right in the front in the guiding principles.

[0:28:54] Voice 2: The policy whereby sort of this will most come alive, I think, is Directive Policy 3.1.1,

[0:29:01] Voice 2: which directs local trust committees and island municipalities in their official community plan

[0:29:06] Voice 2: and land use bylaw reviews to engage with Indigenous governing bodies and provide a

[0:29:11] Voice 2: record of the engagement at the time of bylaw submission. So there's an expectation by Islands

[0:29:16] Voice 2: Trust Executive Committee that when they receive a proposed bylaw amendment from a local trust

[0:29:21] Voice 2: committee, Thetis Island Local Trust Committee, for example, that the Thetis Island Local Trust

[0:29:25] Voice 2: Committee is going to be able to demonstrate that it has engaged with all the Indigenous

[0:29:29] Voice 2: governing bodies that have treaty and territorial interests in the Thetis Island local trust area

[0:29:33] Voice 2: and demonstrate to executive committee what they heard or what, you know, what the Thetis LTC heard

[0:29:40] Voice 2: from that engagement and what they did with what they heard through that engagement. There are a

[0:29:48] Voice 2: number of other directive policies concerning reconciliation, expectations by trust council

[0:29:56] Voice 2: that local trust committees in their land use bylaw and official community plan.

[0:30:00] Voice 2: are going to take the necessary steps to minimize potential adverse impacts to Indigenous cultural

[0:30:04] Voice 2: heritage sites, Indigenous marine harvesting areas, and Indigenous harvesting and hunting areas

[0:30:10] Voice 2: on the land. And of course, the way that a local trust committee is going to find out

[0:30:17] Voice 2: where those sites or places of importance or value are to Indigenous governing bodies

[0:30:22] Voice 2: is through the engagement process that's required by Policy 3.1.1, which I previously mentioned.

[0:30:33] Voice 2: Within this draft policy statement, climate change is not given a discrete chapter, but rather efforts to address both adaptation and mitigation to it are peppered throughout the document.

[0:30:44] Voice 2: These are just a few policies where perhaps climate change is not specifically mentioned, although it is in some places, but that are very much about the impacts that we know are, if we're not already feeling on the islands, are going to be coming on the islands.

[0:30:59] Voice 2: So on the subject of freshwater sustainability, there is an expectation by Trust Council that local trust committees will ensure that neither the density nor intensity of land use is increased in watersheds, where the quality or quantity of the supply of freshwater is likely to be inadequate or unsustainable.

[0:31:15] Voice 2: so we know that across all of the islands there are areas where water groundwater is scarce or

[0:31:23] Voice 2: perhaps surface water sources are not being replenished in the way that they used to be

[0:31:27] Voice 2: and so we should ensure that any changes to the land use that we're making on the islands

[0:31:33] Voice 2: reflects the realities of the expectation of around water availability and recognizing that

[0:31:38] Voice 2: water is used not just by the humans on the island but also by the ecosystems that they sustain

[0:31:44] Voice 2: directive policy 3.4.6 requires that local trust committees identify areas at elevated risk of

[0:31:52] Voice 2: natural and climate change related hazards and restrict development within these areas including

[0:31:57] Voice 2: but not limited to areas subject to flooding sea level rise erosion slope instability and wildfire

[0:32:03] Voice 2: we know i think it's fair to say that the wildfire risk across the island's trust area is increasing

[0:32:09] Voice 2: as the climate changes. I will just note that the word restrict is defined in the draft policy

[0:32:17] Voice 2: statement, not as prohibit, but rather to confine, bound, or limit, and then comma,

[0:32:22] Voice 2: not necessarily prohibit. And on the subject of setbacks from the sea, there's a requirement that

[0:32:28] Voice 2: local trust committees incorporate current and anticipated impacts of sea level rise and storm

[0:32:34] Voice 2: surge and determine appropriate shoreline buffers and setbacks from the sea, recognizing that

[0:32:40] Voice 2: sea level rises sea levels may be rising within the islands trust area in the

[0:32:45] Voice 2: years to come on the subject of housing sort of the third lens through which

[0:32:53] Voice 2: this update to the policy statement is being undertaken there's a commitment by

[0:32:58] Voice 2: Trust Council to address I think what it has heard to be the challenges that

[0:33:03] Voice 2: working people are having securing safe and affordable housing on the islands

[0:33:08] Voice 2: And so there's a number of directive policies included in here.

[0:33:12] Voice 2: 3.4.11 directs local trust committees to identify suitable locations that support increased density for the development of safe, secure, diverse, and attainable housing.

[0:33:22] Voice 2: And there is a commitment here by Trust Council that local trust committees should support a range of housing types and tenures to help meet the identified housing needs of the island community and local Indigenous communities.

[0:33:33] Voice 2: Both of those policies really coming together to signal that some increase in the amount of housing that is available on the island is not necessarily inconsistent with the Islands Trust mandate.

[0:33:46] Voice 2: I think trustees are responding both to what they've heard in previous engagement about the lack of housing diversity on the island.

[0:33:54] Voice 2: the housing stock across the island's trust area is fairly typified by large single-family

[0:34:01] Voice 2: residences, the cost of which has now become unattainable for many people. And so I think

[0:34:09] Voice 2: Trust Council is keen to explore whether there are opportunities to expand the diversity of

[0:34:16] Voice 2: housing types that the islands could potentially offer and through that provide perhaps a more

[0:34:22] Voice 2: attainable form of housing, particularly for working folks. I'll also note that during

[0:34:28] Voice 2: previous phases of this engagement, one theme that emerged was that of people on the islands,

[0:34:34] Voice 2: island residents wanting to be able to age in place. So in a housing stock typified by these

[0:34:40] Voice 2: large single detached dwelling units, those don't always work well for folks as they age,

[0:34:46] Voice 2: they just become harder to maintain. And so there's a desire for other types of housing

[0:34:51] Voice 2: opportunities on the island so that people can stay on the islands where they've lived and that

[0:34:55] Voice 2: they love, rather than having to move off island into forms of housing that better suit their

[0:35:02] Voice 2: needs. So a desire to see whether there's chances to provide those types of housing on the islands

[0:35:08] Voice 2: themselves. You'll also find in this draft policy statement, Directive Policy 3.4.13 around

[0:35:16] Voice 2: clustered small dwelling units, which is a direction from trust council to local trust

[0:35:21] Voice 2: committees to, in their official committee plans and land use bylaws, find ways to support

[0:35:25] Voice 2: alternatives to conventional single detached dwellings by establishing policies that permit

[0:35:28] Voice 2: clusters of small dwelling units in suitable areas. And this is specifically an effort to

[0:35:36] Voice 2: encourage or explore opportunities to expand the use of tiny homes within the Islands Trust area,

[0:35:42] Voice 2: and this is potentially one way to do it. Next steps in this project, as we've noted,

[0:35:53] Voice 2: The six-month engagement window is essentially now closed.

[0:35:56] Voice 2: We're, as staff, we're going to go away and sort through and summarize and analyze all of the survey results that we've received, as well as correspondence that's been received during this six-month window.

[0:36:10] Voice 2: The bylaw had also, at the time it was given first reading, been referred out to federal government agencies, provincial government agencies, regional districts, island municipalities, and improvement districts.

[0:36:23] Voice 2: So we'll also be looking through all of the feedback that we have received from those bodies and determining whether or not or what next steps should be made based on that feedback.

[0:36:34] Voice 2: The bylaw had also been referred out to Indigenous governing bodies, some of whom have provided feedback to us as well.

[0:36:41] Voice 2: So we'll be looking through all of that and trying to determine what an appropriate response is to the type of feedback that we've been receiving.

[0:36:48] Voice 2: We will package this all together and provide it to Trust Council at an upcoming meeting

[0:36:54] Voice 2: that will likely be sometime in the spring.

[0:36:59] Voice 2: And once Trust Council has that opportunity to consider all of this great information

[0:37:05] Voice 2: that they'll have received as a result of this engagement and referral process, Trust

[0:37:09] Voice 2: Council will have the opportunity to decide what it wants to take as next steps in the

[0:37:14] Voice 2: project, still with an eye towards potential approval of a new policy statement before the

[0:37:22] Voice 2: next local government elections in the fall of 2026, though we are all recognizing that that,

[0:37:28] Voice 2: while it seems like some distance off that timeline, is beginning to seem awfully tight.

[0:37:34] Voice 2: That concludes my presentation. Thank you for your attention. Apologies for

[0:37:41] Voice 2: the delay in getting online here and I'm happy to field any questions that

[0:37:46] Voice 2: either trustees or members of the public might have. Thank you.

[0:37:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you so much, Jason. That was a great presentation. I'm sure people have questions.

[0:38:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): So if attendees, I see that there are six here today. If you want to ask a question,

[0:38:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): please do raise your hand and you'll be promoted to speaker i see lynn smith go ahead thank you

[0:38:29] Voice 20: very much for that presentation can you hear me uh great thank you for the presentation i feel that

[0:38:42] Voice 20: this has obviously been a six-year journey for staff and for communities unfortunately i feel

[0:38:49] Voice 20: that communities have been lost along the way having not had an opportunity on Thetis to have

[0:38:58] Voice 20: an in-person meeting has really made it that the local community has been unable to actually sit

[0:39:07] Voice 20: down and see your presentation which was excellent but at 9 30 in the morning on a Tuesday morning

[0:39:15] Voice 20: not everyone's available. I think that it's important to make sure that we, you know,

[0:39:24] Voice 20: communities feel like they get lost along the way. And, you know, we're an important part of

[0:39:31] Voice 20: this process. There's lots of really good information in this statement, this policy

[0:39:38] Voice 20: statement. It looks like, you know, the Islands Trust is going in a great direction.

[0:39:46] Voice 20: But, you know, over a six month period, you should have been able to organize a meeting, whether you have staff strikes or whether you have canceled meetings, it's still something that should have taken place.

[0:40:01] Voice 20: But I have emailed enough on that. And I'm sure that you got that, but it's still lacking.

[0:40:08] Voice 20: So I have a few questions about some of the things that are in the policy. So I'd just like to go to your climate change. And you're talking about hazardous areas at 3.4.6.

[0:40:26] Voice 20: And I'm just wondering if there's mapping that is already in place with regards to all

[0:40:35] Voice 20: of that information that you're looking for there.

[0:40:42] Voice 2: Thanks, Lynn.

[0:40:43] Voice 2: That is a very good question and one that sort of gets to what will be one of, I'll

[0:40:52] Voice 2: I'll say one of the challenges, I guess, of implementing these policies is determining what data do we currently have that will support making decisions based on these policies, what don't we have, and what do we need to get.

[0:41:12] Voice 2: So, because the Islands Trust straddles six regional districts, I believe, there is a diverse sort of set of information that may be available.

[0:41:32] Voice 2: And so at the moment, we don't have it all inventoried and in a single place. We do have within the Islands Trust our own digital mapping system, whereby we do receive data layers primarily from the provincial government related that do touch on some of these issues.

[0:41:49] Voice 2: But I know that over the years, it's been regional districts, I think, that have primarily been at the forefront of doing sea level rise mapping, for example, and wildfire hazard mapping. I know there is wildfire hazard mapping for the Southern Gulf Islands, for example, that was done by the Capital Regional District.

[0:42:06] Voice 2: But of course, you know, Thetis Island Local Trust Committee is in the Comox Valley Regional District, and I don't know off the top of my head whether the CVRD has done wildfire risk mapping for its own regional district and whether or not that mapping may have included the Thetis Island Local Trust area.

[0:42:23] Voice 2: So, one of the first tasks that we're going to have to do, I think, as Trust Council turns its mind towards how this document is going to be implemented, is understanding what information we currently have available, either within the Islands Trust, or what information may be available from a provincial government agency or from the regional districts that also overlap the Islands Trust area, and bring all of that information together within the Islands Trust.

[0:42:54] Voice 2: digital mapping ecosystem so that we can apply it. So I guess the short answer to your question

[0:43:01] Voice 2: is, do we have all of this information? No, we don't currently. A lot of it is out there,

[0:43:07] Voice 2: but it's a matter of bringing it all together and ensuring that we can apply it in our decision

[0:43:12] Voice 2: making.

[0:43:14] Voice 20: Thank you very much. I still have a couple more questions. So can I continue or

[0:43:19] Voice 20: or would someone else be stepping in?

[0:43:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): I think we can continue.

[0:43:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): I just want to recognize Trustee Luckham

[0:43:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): will have to step out at 10.30.

[0:43:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): But let's take one more question from you, Lynn,

[0:43:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): and then we'll go to Trustee Luckham,

[0:43:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): and then you can continue if that's okay.

[0:43:38] Voice 20: Under housing, I noticed that you have,

[0:43:42] Voice 20: are indicating Indigenous local,

[0:43:46] Voice 20: housing for local Indigenous communities.

[0:43:49] Voice 20: And I was just wondering if that is under the jurisdiction of Islands Trust or if that's federal or another jurisdiction.

[0:44:00] Voice 20: You know, I believe it's very important to be careful when you make those statements in regards to that, because I'm not sure that Islands Trust actually has a say in housing for local Indigenous communities.

[0:44:22] Voice 20: Can you please explain that part of the policy?

[0:44:27] Voice 20: Yeah,

[0:44:28] Voice 2: absolutely. Sure, I'll just sort of breathe deeply here to make sure I don't say anything weird or convoluted.

[0:44:41] Voice 2: As we have engaged with Indigenous governing bodies on this project and across all of the work that Islands Trust does across the Islands Trust area,

[0:44:51] Voice 2: area, those Indigenous governing bodies have expressed an interest in their people being

[0:44:57] Voice 2: able to live on the islands as they used to do and, to a large extent, no longer do.

[0:45:06] Voice 2: You are very correct that if we're talking about reserve land, as I think we all know

[0:45:14] Voice 2: it, that is a matter between the federal government and Indigenous governing bodies.

[0:45:19] Voice 2: The establishment of a new reserve is not anything that the Islands Trust would ever be involved in a discussion or a decision about.

[0:45:25] Voice 2: out um but if trying to think here of ways of ways that the islands trust could support

[0:45:34] Voice 2: housing for indigenous people on the islands outside of um the federal system are things like

[0:45:43] Voice 2: if let's say um an indigenous governing body decided to purchase land on one of the islands

[0:45:49] Voice 2: that wouldn't necessarily be reserve land it would just be land that they owned fee simple

[0:45:53] Voice 2: and decided that they wanted to develop it as housing for their people,

[0:45:57] Voice 2: I think this policy sets up an expectation that a local trust committee would not give outright support.

[0:46:07] Voice 2: It still needs to exercise its decision-making and ensure that all policies are adhered to.

[0:46:11] Voice 2: But it signals sort of a positive intent that if an Indigenous governing body has found

[0:46:17] Voice 2: or is finding a way to provide housing for its people on one of the islands,

[0:46:22] Voice 2: that the local trust committee should be receptive to that and find ways to use its authority to

[0:46:28] Voice 2: encourage that.

[0:46:32] Voice 20: So I just have one more area that I struggle with. Your definition here with

[0:46:42] Voice 20: colonialism and the use of the word colonialism, I really have a struggle with that. When you have

[0:46:52] Voice 20: people who have come from all over the world to live and bring their expertise and everything to

[0:47:02] Voice 20: the economy, to the lands that are here. Colonialism, with the part where you've written

[0:47:14] Voice 20: certain colonialers or Isers are groups of people or countries that came to a new place or country

[0:47:22] Voice 20: and steal the land and resources from the Indigenous peoples. I find this disheartening

[0:47:31] Voice 20: because I don't feel that that works towards colonialism or towards the reconciliation.

[0:47:39] Voice 20: reconciliation mistakes have been made and we're all working uh with due diligence towards

[0:47:47] Voice 20: reconciliation and by bringing something like this into the document it it feels disheartening for

[0:47:57] Voice 20: for those that have taken and come and not taken the land, stealing it.

[0:48:08] Voice 20: They have in a good manner made purchases that were allowed.

[0:48:19] Voice 20: They didn't steal the land.

[0:48:21] Voice 20: They did it through a legal process.

[0:48:24] Voice 20: Islands Trust is part of that legal process.

[0:48:27] Voice 20: of land. And I think that there needs to be some changes made in that direction.

[0:48:35] Voice 20: I really believe that we're all working very, very hard on reconciliation. And we want to make

[0:48:43] Voice 20: sure that we're using the appropriate language to make people feel comfortable with this document.

[0:48:51] Voice 20: and I'll leave it off there I'm sure that I have a million other things to say but you guys have

[0:49:01] Voice 20: done a great job and I'd like to thank you for letting me speak today thank you thank

[0:49:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): you so

[0:49:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): much Lynn for your comments and your questions we may circle back to the definition of colonization

[0:49:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): or colonialism um but i'd like to go to trustee luckham who has his hand up um as he's got to

[0:49:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): exit trustee luckham comments yeah

[0:49:28] Trustee Luckham: thank you very much for the opportunity to speak and uh

[0:49:32] Trustee Luckham: appreciate the forgiveness for me to have to exit for a bit here i will be returning to the meeting

[0:49:39] Trustee Luckham: afterwards and of course i would be reviewing the recordings here um afterwards as well um thank you

[0:49:45] Trustee Luckham: you, Jason, for your presentation. Very well done. I want to acknowledge you, your team,

[0:49:52] Trustee Luckham: those that came before you that have contributed to this monumental work that we're hoping to

[0:50:00] Trustee Luckham: advance. And indeed, it's not a perfect document. In fact, we've removed things that were

[0:50:06] Trustee Luckham: objectionable from the first phase. We've altered the language and softened areas,

[0:50:12] Trustee Luckham: Some of which I frankly say I'm not thrilled with, but I think it's for the better good. And advancing this body, this work to a good place will help us move on with other business and implement some of those aspirations that we have that are recognized in the policy statement.

[0:50:31] Trustee Luckham: One thing that I'm listening to your presentation, which is brilliant, by the way, I just recognize that there's a little emphasis on what the changes might be, what is going to impact you as a landowner and a resident and the like, and the short term and the mid term and the long term.

[0:50:47] Trustee Luckham: And that's really great. Although the thing that leaves me with a question, and I know what the answer is, but I think it's worth articulating and considering, including in future presentations, that even though the policy statement may be adopted, and even though LTCs may be changing their OCPs and their land use bylaws to come into compliance with the policy statement,

[0:51:12] Trustee Luckham: Every single one of those changes at the OCP and the LUB level will be held at the public level, and the public will continue to have the opportunity to influence their official community plans, which they own, and the land use bylaws to support the official community plan ongoing through this.

[0:51:31] Trustee Luckham: So it's not that things from the policy

[0:51:34] Voice 6: statement are going to be implemented in some draconian fashion in the local community.

[0:52:00] Voice 6: Trustee

[0:52:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): Luckum, you're cutting out a bit.

[0:52:04] Voice 6: community

[0:52:05] Trustee Luckham: will continue to have input to that process going forward and but just a suggestion

[0:52:13] Trustee Luckham: there you go thank you i'm sorry i muted i finished so thank you

[0:52:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): we just we it was breaking

[0:52:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): up quite badly just in the last part of your comment trustee luckham i don't know if you could

[0:52:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): rephrase it uh i think you were talking about the community still has the opportunity to comment

[0:52:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): or amend? I think we sort of missed your point there.

[0:52:37] Trustee Luckham: Yeah, sorry. Yeah, that once the policy

[0:52:40] Trustee Luckham: statement is adopted and is enforced, changes that happen in the local community at the OCP

[0:52:47] Trustee Luckham: and the LUB level will continue to facilitate public input. And so those changes will be

[0:52:55] Trustee Luckham: uh implemented in a in a way that hopefully uh um meets the community's expectations

[0:53:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): okay thank you i think we got that okay and

[0:53:09] Trustee Luckham: i am going to exit the meeting and i'll be back at 11

[0:53:12] Trustee Luckham: 15 okay

[0:53:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): we're going to try to we made amend uh yeah public comment period um i know you wanted

[0:53:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): to be here for that. Yeah, I don't think we can delay till 1115. So we'll just come in.

[0:53:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): I can

[0:53:28] Trustee Luckham: listen to the recordings after. Thank

[0:53:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): you. Thank you. I

[0:53:33] Trustee Luckham: recognize that. Thank you.

[0:53:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you, trustee. Welcome. So Lynn, was there anything further? Or did anyone want to

[0:53:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): address specifically the question of the definition of colonialism in the

[0:53:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): The document, recognizing it does provoke discomfort for some, and I do take your comments, Lynn, that many, many, many people in the trust area are working with a good heart and spirit towards, in a spirit of reconciliation.

[0:54:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): However, I think the intent is to recognize the ongoing impact of a structure of colonialism. It is not meant to take aim at any people in particular. It is a structure that continues to perpetuate harm and alienation from lands for Indigenous people.

[0:54:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): And so I think that's felt quite differently by Indigenous people, and then it is for those of us who are newcomers to the islands. But thank you for your comments on that. I don't know if anybody else wanted to answer any of the questions Lynn asked, or if we could turn to, and just put your hand up if you do want to.

[0:54:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I see Ian Ralston is wanting to speak, if we could promote him to speaker. Thanks, go ahead.

[0:55:05] Voice 15: Sure, just a brief comment in relation to what Peter just mentioned before he left.

[0:55:16] Voice 15: Back when the Islands Trust brought the original policy statement to Thetis Island

[0:55:23] Voice 15: for comment. The Thetis community at the time essentially sent it back and said that they felt

[0:55:32] Voice 15: it was not a good idea and that they did not want the Islands Trust to have this

[0:55:41] Voice 15: overarching policy statement. And over the years, I think that the concern that was expressed by

[0:55:48] Voice 15: by the community has been borne out in the way

[0:55:52] Voice 15: in which the policy statement tends to require compliance

[0:55:58] Voice 15: by local trust committees,

[0:56:02] Voice 15: work on OCPs and land use bylaws.

[0:56:07] Voice 15: Now, as Peter says, of course,

[0:56:09] Voice 15: those are still public processes,

[0:56:12] Voice 15: but as Jason was saying earlier

[0:56:16] Voice 15: earlier about one or two of the things he presented, OCPs are expected to be in compliance

[0:56:26] Voice 15: with these policies. And this, in many cases, is absolutely fine because a lot of these things are

[0:56:34] Voice 15: kind of motherhood statements. But in other cases, they may not fit well with the character of the

[0:56:42] Voice 15: the local community. And personally, I see the policy statement as a completely unnecessary

[0:56:51] Voice 15: document, which, as far as I can see, has done nothing to improve protection of the environment

[0:56:59] Voice 15: on Thetis Island, basically. Now, it may have been very handy on Salt Spring or somewhere else,

[0:57:05] Voice 15: And that's great, but I see no reason why there could not just be some advisory model code kind of bylaw information that was provided to local trust committees for their education and to discuss with the community.

[0:57:25] Voice 15: But an official community plan is supposed to reflect the character of the community.

[0:57:35] Voice 15: And we all understand that the Islands Trust is an imposed body which exists to protect and preserve the people of BC, not for the local community.

[0:57:48] Voice 15: But it is also a, you know, it has become the community bylaw agency, right?

[0:57:59] Voice 15: So in that sense, I believe that there's a responsibility to ensure that official community plans and bylaws suit the communities that they're applied to, as long as they don't lead to some sort of very obvious negative environmental impact that could be avoided by a change to the bylaw.

[0:58:25] Voice 15: So, I realize there's absolutely nothing we can do about this at this point. I was just wanting to place this on the record as a reminder that of all of the island communities consulted back in the day, Thetis Island essentially sent the people back saying, we don't want to sign on to your agenda by commenting on this document because we think the document itself is wrong.

[0:58:57] Voice 15: So I think actually Saturna may have had a similar comment, but Theodosius was quite forceful about this at the time.

[0:59:09] Voice 15: So anyway, this is also partially for Peter to listen to when he hears the recording.

[0:59:14] Voice 15: So anyway, thanks very much for letting me make a comment.

[0:59:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you, Mr. Ralston.

[0:59:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): Justin, do staff want to comment on sort of, and I do want to maybe clarify, in your comments you said Thetis didn't want to sign on.

[0:59:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): Was it that the previous draft that had been presented was unsatisfactory, or was it the entire concept of a policy statement being applied in the trust area generally and sort of superseding or requiring the OCPs comply with it?

[0:59:54] Voice 15: Yeah, at the time, it was the concept.

[0:59:57] Voice 15: So essentially...

[1:00:00] Voice 15: Islands Trust staff, and I think a consultant at the time, came to Thetis with a similar

[1:00:06] Voice 15: presentation to the one that Jason made, except, of course, it was all new at the time, right?

[1:00:11] Voice 15: There was no policy statement previously.

[1:00:15] Voice 15: That's incorrect.

[1:00:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): There is a policy statement.

[1:00:18] Voice 15: No, there is now, but there wasn't at the time when this consultation first occurred.

[1:00:25] Voice 5: Can you tell me what year that was, approximately?

[1:00:30] Voice 5: It

[1:00:30] Voice 15: would have been in the, I guess, the early 90s, I suppose.

[1:00:37] Voice 15: I can't remember exactly.

[1:00:40] Voice 7: But

[1:00:41] Voice 15: I'm sure Peter would remember.

[1:00:44] Voice 15: Anyhow, at the time, basically, what the message was,

[1:00:51] Voice 15: was that Thetis Island, as a community,

[1:00:55] Voice 15: didn't think that the concept of a policy statement was a good idea.

[1:00:59] Voice 15: And they essentially refused to engage in a discussion of the minutiae of the policy statement because they felt that by engaging in that discussion, they were validating the whole concept of the policy statement.

[1:01:18] Voice 15: And one of the key reasons that they rejected this was because of the implication for future sort of homogenization of island communities, particularly the kind of overwhelming nature of some of the larger communities like Salt Spring or Gabriola or what have you,

[1:01:43] Voice 15: that have a disproportionate sort of impact in terms of problems and so on

[1:01:51] Voice 15: in comparison to somewhere like Thetis or, indeed, Saturna at the time.

[1:01:58] Voice 15: Yeah, I mean, you might find it interesting to look back.

[1:02:01] Voice 15: I'm sure somewhere in the dusty archives there's a record of this

[1:02:05] Voice 15: because it was included in the feedback document at the time.

[1:02:10] Voice 15: And actually, I think I also went with a representative from Salt Spring and spoke at the time.

[1:02:21] Voice 15: There was kind of a trust council meeting about it, and we went and spoke in similar terms.

[1:02:27] Voice 15: So anyway, there we go.

[1:02:30] Voice 15: It wasn't, as I say, it makes no difference to the current situation.

[1:02:33] Voice 15: I realize we have what we have, but I just don't like to lose track of these things.

[1:02:40] Voice 15: I feel that there needs to be a lot more recognition of what is appropriate for Thetis Island rather than what is appropriate from a sort of broader perspective, right?

[1:02:56] Voice 15: And I feel personally that that sort of engagement with the community encourages stewardship, encourages a positive reinforcement of people's protection of the environment.

[1:03:11] Voice 15: um anyway that's that's just me so well thank

[1:03:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): you mr ralston for your comments um i would like to

[1:03:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): turn to staff and just ask um maybe if you can clarify the statutory obligation um under the

[1:03:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): islands trust act to um create a policy statement and sort of whether that's optional or not

[1:03:36] Voice 2: No, the requirement to have a policy statement is not optional. However, beyond the requirement to have a policy statement, it's then up to the Islands Trust to structure it as it so chooses.

[1:03:49] Voice 2: So I think, you know, what Ian got to there was sort of the perennial and fundamental question of a federal type body like the Islands Trust is to what extent does the greater body impose requirements upon its constituent parts?

[1:04:11] Voice 2: I think the draft of the policy statement that has been produced in this round takes a lot structurally from the previous iteration, like from the one that's currently in force right now.

[1:04:25] Voice 2: This notion that Trust Council should direct local trust committees to do X, Y, and Z is very much a carryover from the version of the policy statement that's currently in force.

[1:04:38] Voice 2: And so, you know, and Chair Elliott, you'd be able to speak to this better than I, like the nature of the political conversation at the Trust Council table about how and to what extent does Trust Council want to direct local trust committees to do certain things in its land use decisions versus broader visionary type statements about a direction that local trust committees are expected to head in,

[1:05:07] Voice 2: but not so prescriptive in the in the steps i guess that that trust council expects of local

[1:05:13] Voice 2: trust committees to get there to that place it's um it's a very good topic but yes

[1:05:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): it really is

[1:05:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): um and there's definitely been a tension um among trustees debating these different policies as as

[1:05:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): trustee luckham alluded to it's not a perfect document and we really have been seeking input

[1:05:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): put from community members and ltcs what are the gaps but the tension is that prescriptivity

[1:05:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): there are certain groups who feel those directive policies should be much stronger language in terms

[1:05:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): of the development of of ocp bylaws and and land use bylaws and there are some that want to

[1:05:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): to, as you're sort of alluding to, Ian, maintain that local island character and autonomy.

[1:06:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): And so some of the language is kind of open for that reason.

[1:06:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): It isn't, I would say this document, this draft, you know, things like consider site

[1:06:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): capabilities, environmental and protected areas, manage community growth and its associated

[1:06:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): impacts by directing residential commercial so it's it's asking local trust committees

[1:06:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): to develop policies that are going in a direction that would consider site capabilities for instance

[1:06:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): or manage community growth in a way that is makes sense for their community and but i do acknowledge

[1:06:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): that's a real tension of that prescriptiveness versus um sort of open-endedness and some of the

[1:06:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): The language, I think, in the policy statement reflects that.

[1:06:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): Some of them are just stronger policies and people want them to be very prescriptive and some people don't.

[1:07:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): So that's definitely a tension we're working with.

[1:07:11] Voice 2: Maybe it's important to highlight as well, Chair Elliott, that the decision about whether or not a local bylaw is contrary or at variance to the policy statement arrives on executive committee's table for that decision.

[1:07:28] Voice 2: And that decision is informed by any number of potential input.

[1:07:34] Voice 2: So the assessment of whether local land use changes are consistent with the policy statement,

[1:07:41] Voice 2: at the end of the day, under the current structure, is a political decision.

[1:07:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yep. And that could change with a different implementation plan.

[1:07:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): It could be up to the local trust committee to make an argument, for instance,

[1:07:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): why this meets certain policies or meets the test right now we just have a checklist

[1:08:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): and I think there is discussion about how the implementation and sort of documentation of

[1:08:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): the alignment of policies with bylaws in development is that's a further conversation

[1:08:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): we need to do some work on that anything further on the sort of the requirement of the policy

[1:08:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): policy statement and relationship with local trust committee OCPs. If not, we'll go to David.

[1:08:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair?

[1:08:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yep. Okay. Thank you. You've seen him. Thank you.

[1:08:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay. So I see David with his hand. If we could promote him to speaker

[1:08:40] Voice 8: and please go ahead.

[1:08:41] Voice 8: Welcome. Hi,

[1:08:46] Voice 13: David Race here. Just a couple of things. Thank you for that presentation.

[1:08:52] Voice 13: I did go through the policy statement and I did do the survey, but I'm, like others, quite disappointed with the lack of participation.

[1:09:09] Voice 13: I can speak from first-hand knowledge that Cetus Islanders can fill a hall to discuss things.

[1:09:23] Voice 13: So I just felt that if you missed a meeting on Salt Spring, you wouldn't have said, oh, we didn't have the Salt Spring meeting, let's just move on.

[1:09:35] Voice 13: I think that there should have been, let's figure this out.

[1:09:39] Voice 13: kind of discussion at some point and i think it reflects badly on on uh the island's trust that

[1:09:45] Voice 13: the that it didn't um uh the second point i wanted to uh talk to is uh lynn's talk about the point

[1:09:54] Voice 13: about um colonialism i'm very um uh um in disagreement with lynn unfortunately uh

[1:10:05] Voice 13: she's a good friend but the lynn sorry if the phone ringing on the background

[1:10:14] Voice 13: colonialism is is something and and my parents were settlers and and are uh children of settlers

[1:10:24] Voice 13: i understand that uh that we've a lot of us have come and and started with nothing and put a lot

[1:10:34] Voice 13: of work into building our lives here and have provided uh a lot of uh the um energy that has

[1:10:42] Voice 13: helped build this province and build this country but there was a overriding colonial mandate that

[1:10:51] Voice 13: did that and we have to reflect that and reflect how it uh how it affected lives and how people

[1:10:58] Voice 13: were pushed into channels of non-participation that you talk to our MLA when growing up and

[1:11:07] Voice 13: not being able to sit with other people in the theater at the time. Those problems are something

[1:11:14] Voice 13: that we can't just ignore. And that's why I just wanted to offer my opinions on that. Thanks.

[1:11:22] Voice 13: Thank you

[1:11:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): for those comments, David. And yes, I really appreciate and recognize that

[1:11:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): but we did not do enough to make sure that the local trust area of Thetis Island

[1:11:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): had an opportunity to comment before the close of the period.

[1:11:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I'm really deeply apologize for that.

[1:11:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay, we have four more folks in the list of attendees.

[1:11:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): If anybody would like to ask questions or give comments,

[1:11:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): This is also a time when you can give comments to the local trust committee on the policy statement, your thoughts on it.

[1:12:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): It will help inform the Thetis LTC's referral response.

[1:12:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): Although the deadline has closed, we're going to be able to submit a response just because of the timing of this meeting.

[1:12:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): So if you have any general support for policies or, you know, questions about other policies, I think now would be the time. Just give a few more minutes. Okay. Oh, Mr. Ralston. Yes.

[1:12:51] Voice 15: Well, since nobody else was saying anything, I guess, thank you very much, both of you, for the comments back on the sort of federal versus provincial sort of policy thing with the Islands Trust.

[1:13:10] Voice 15: and I quite understand that.

[1:13:14] Voice 15: I guess if I can have a comment,

[1:13:18] Voice 15: it would be that I hope when the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee

[1:13:23] Voice 15: discusses their comments back to council on the policy statement

[1:13:29] Voice 15: that they strongly support any approach

[1:13:36] Voice 15: approach which reduces the prescriptive requirements from the trust council to the local trust

[1:13:46] Voice 15: committee and that possibly they put forward some suggestions about cost and complexity

[1:13:55] Voice 15: reduction through allowing local trust committees more latitude to determine whether the policies

[1:14:03] Voice 15: are consistent, because that should presumably reduce the burden on staff and the executive

[1:14:10] Voice 15: committee to be second-guessing what the local trust committee does. So anyway, just in case

[1:14:20] Voice 15: you're discussing that, that's my comment, and also was in the past the comment from the Thetis

[1:14:27] Voice 15: community many, many years ago. Different community now, I'm sure, but still, I'm sure

[1:14:34] Voice 15: some of us still remember that. All right. Thanks very much.

[1:14:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you very much, Mr. Ralston. Lynn, I see your hand.

[1:14:47] Voice 20: Thank you. I have a question that reflects on the current, is it going to the APC,

[1:14:57] Voice 20: this statement, or has it already gone through the Thetis Island Advisory Planning Commission?

[1:15:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): It has not. Actually, Jason, could you speak to who we must refer this document out to,

[1:15:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): and sort of why the six-month period was chosen

[1:15:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): and whether APCs could have been engaged in that?

[1:15:33] Voice 2: Sure.

[1:15:36] Voice 2: The only required agency to which I think we must refer the policy statement

[1:15:42] Voice 2: is regional districts.

[1:15:45] Voice 2: But it has also been referred to provincial government agencies, of course,

[1:15:48] Voice 2: where our various authorities overlap

[1:15:50] Voice 2: and to ensure that what we're doing is consistent with the provincial interest,

[1:15:54] Voice 2: we intersect with federal government bodies

[1:15:56] Voice 2: and their areas of authority as well, and the treaty and territorial interests of Indigenous

[1:16:02] Voice 2: governing bodies who call the Islands Trust Area part of their home.

[1:16:08] Voice 2: So this, in addition to that, it has been referred by Trust Council to local trust committees

[1:16:15] Voice 2: for their response with the expectation that those local trust committees are going to

[1:16:23] Voice 2: think about the potential impacts that the policy statement is going to have on their

[1:16:27] Voice 2: particular local trust area and if there are revisions that the local trust committee would

[1:16:32] Voice 2: like to see to the document to better ensure that the interests of their local trust area

[1:16:38] Voice 2: are met, as Ian was pointing out in his comments.

[1:16:47] Voice 2: If the document was going to be referred to advisory planning commissions, the decision

[1:16:52] Voice 2: decision to do so would come via the local trust committee of that local trust area.

[1:17:01] Voice 2: But in doing so, I guess it all depends on how a local trust committee wants to

[1:17:08] Voice 2: receive community feedback about the document. It could go to its advisory planning committee,

[1:17:16] Voice 2: if it so chose, or as is happening today, it could just sort of put it out to the general

[1:17:20] Voice 2: community and take in feedback that way. But anyways, all that to say, I feel that was a

[1:17:26] Voice 2: little mumbly. For the most part, local trust committees are not referring the document on

[1:17:33] Voice 2: to their advisory planning committees from what I've seen around the trust area.

[1:17:40] Voice 20: Thank you. So it feels like this wasn't referred to an APC or Thetis Island, and there hasn't been

[1:17:52] Voice 20: a public meeting held on Thetis.

[1:17:56] Voice 20: This feels like a lot of Thetis

[1:18:00] Voice 20: has been left out

[1:18:01] Voice 20: based on both of those opportunities

[1:18:04] Voice 20: that have been missed.

[1:18:06] Voice 20: I am disappointed in that.

[1:18:09] Voice 20: And, you know,

[1:18:13] Voice 20: things that when communities

[1:18:15] Voice 20: are not given the opportunity

[1:18:18] Voice 20: to meet in person, as Dave says,

[1:18:21] Voice 20: we can fill a hole on fetus and so that in the end what that feels like is people stop trusting

[1:18:30] Voice 20: a government body and then they feel that there's a lack of transparency and that you're trying to

[1:18:39] Voice 20: hide something and that's not the intent of this policy clearly but it is what it feels like when

[1:18:48] Voice 20: when people aren't aware of, people don't follow the Islands Trust. It's just not something that

[1:18:57] Voice 20: they do. They may follow TikTok, they may follow Facebook, but the Islands Trust is clearly not

[1:19:03] Voice 20: on the top of their priorities. So I think that, you know, I feel that Islands Trust could actually

[1:19:12] Voice 20: hold a public meeting on Thetis and delay moving along this opportunity for public engagement and

[1:19:23] Voice 20: nothing may come of it but other things may come out that people have had an opportunity to think

[1:19:31] Voice 20: about because this is basically the first opportunity in this meeting that people have

[1:19:37] Voice 20: have had a presentation that has been put forward by a person, a human being. It's not a piece of

[1:19:47] Voice 20: paper. It's not a link. It's an actual person. And I think that's how we feel on Thetis is we like

[1:19:55] Voice 20: that personal engagement so that we feel that we have an opportunity to participate. And I think

[1:20:04] Voice 20: those are really important things. Because as you see, this meeting is an example of electronic

[1:20:12] Voice 20: meetings. You've had staff, Jason's had to sign out, sign in. Trustee Luckham has had the garbled

[1:20:23] Voice 20: voice. So, you know, electronic meetings are just not the way to go. And I'd just like to go back to

[1:20:32] Voice 20: the colonialism. I feel that people over time in good faith have purchased their properties

[1:20:42] Voice 20: and that we once again are all working towards reconciliation. I feel the word steal is not the

[1:20:52] Voice 20: right word. I think that there's another word out there that could actually reflect that people in

[1:21:00] Voice 20: in good faith, have purchased their properties, and that what has happened in the past, we are

[1:21:08] Voice 20: working to make a huge effort on reconciliation. So I'd like to thank you for your time. I'd like

[1:21:16] Voice 20: thank you for your presentation. I still feel there should be an opportunity to have a public

[1:21:23] Voice 20: meeting to fill the Thetis Island Hall. Thank you.

[1:21:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you so much, Lynn. We do take your

[1:21:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): comments seriously and have definitely learned from this experience. Is there anyone else who

[1:21:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): just raise your hand if you have any further comments? If not, we'll move into Oh, I see one

[1:21:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): more. Hello, Kathleen McGarvey. We could promote Kathleen to speaker.

[1:22:00] Voice 9: Can you hear me now? Yes,

[1:22:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yes, we can go right ahead. Welcome.

[1:22:04] Voice 9: Very just quick comment with what Lynn said is no one on the island really

[1:22:12] Voice 9: knows what's going on.

[1:22:14] Voice 9: And I think are only kind of getting into it recently.

[1:22:18] Voice 9: And I think that, you know, we have, you know, I Lynn's right.

[1:22:23] Voice 9: We should have more meetings. And just to talk about the, you know,

[1:22:25] Voice 9: electronic meeting, you know, the link was wrong.

[1:22:28] Voice 9: The link sent an email. Okay. So I went, I've been trying to find the link.

[1:22:33] Voice 9: I joined the meeting late because I, you know, there was an email I get sent from the Island Trust about all the meetings and the link was for a Gambier meeting. So there's like, you know, so it's very easy for people to be uncomfortable and not comfortable with using Zoom technology.

[1:22:48] Voice 9: And, and I think a lot of people are, you know, aren't happy with the policy statement. And, and then there's a whole bunch of people that are actually put it there, you know, like, this is like, you know, from the internet discussions and stuff like that, that feel that they gave all this feedback at the last episode, you know, the last episode, you know, there was in person and a whole bunch of things, right.

[1:23:18] Voice 9: Right. And a lot of the concerns were the directive statements and and things.

[1:23:23] Voice 9: And I think people are pretty frustrated.

[1:23:27] Voice 9: And I, you know, you know, I'm a well-educated, well-comfortable with all this stuff thing.

[1:23:34] Voice 9: But I read this over and I don't understand, you know, I really don't understand what is going on.

[1:23:43] Voice 9: Like I, part of me is totally worried that, you know, all the islands are going to be pushed into having DPAs on 12 different things, you know, that, that the policy statement is way too grand. We, you know, way above, like we're jumping out of our wheelhouse again, like not working at, you know, the island issues that we know we're basically trying to, you know, it's a, you know, the Islands Trust was released for one specific reason, but land use planning, you know,

[1:24:12] Voice 9: and kind of protecting the land use planning for a variety of reasons, such as environmental and

[1:24:17] Voice 9: other. And we're seeming to get out of our air of expertise into areas that other, you know,

[1:24:24] Voice 9: aspects of government are dealing with, you know, sort of like, you know, the heritage

[1:24:28] Voice 9: preservation of archaeological sites. So we have an organization, super complex issue,

[1:24:33] Voice 9: we have an organization, you know, provincially that deals with that, like, like, you know,

[1:24:38] Voice 9: let's just follow their policies and not create our own and and the way it's written as shell it

[1:24:45] Voice 9: looks like i mean how are we going to do this correctly without hiring all these experts and

[1:24:52] Voice 9: all these areas i you know and now that it's directive rather than out allowing like thetis

[1:24:58] Voice 9: island which is kind of a happy little island most disputes are dealt with like you know in the nice

[1:25:04] Voice 9: little way that you can do them in a small island and I don't know this this

[1:25:09] Voice 9: seems to be trying to make all the islands the same so and what I would

[1:25:14] Voice 9: like from a discussion is I think you guys could probably reassure me because

[1:25:18] Voice 9: I'm just going this is terrible and I may be overreacting but I don't have any

[1:25:23] Voice 9: way to get further information and understand what like you know what this

[1:25:29] Voice 9: policy statement actually means in reality for the island right so well

[1:25:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): Well, Kathleen, I can say that I share your, I don't know if the word is befuddlement,

[1:25:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): but having been through 15 meetings as a trustee, new to policymaking and sort of coming into

[1:25:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): this process, you know, there was an early 2021 version that did not receive first reading.

[1:26:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): It had some policies that provoked quite a reaction among the public, and so it was not

[1:26:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): well received. But then there were some strong ones in there about forest stewardship. So we've

[1:26:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): had a lot of conversation, a lot of learning as trustees. And I definitely can appreciate that

[1:26:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): for the general public, maybe not having come along this path with your elected officials and

[1:26:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): attending, I think there was 15 meetings, some of them were three or four hours long.

[1:26:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): It was a lot of wrestling with words and nuances. You know, if we say limit the rate and scale of development versus, you know, curb it in this way, or don't put houses in hazardous areas versus, you know, prohibition versus don't put them there, right?

[1:26:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): Right. So a lot of thought has gone into this, but I do recognize that it's it's hard to see the connection between a policy, your community OCP.

[1:27:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): And then what is that going to mean for for me as a landowner?

[1:27:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): I will say that I don't see in this document a big at all an opening for, you know, pro development.

[1:27:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): There's been some criticism that it's watered down the previous sort of environmental protection core.

[1:27:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): But if you look at the ecosystem protection policies and the goals there, for instance, this is just one example where there used to be sort of one policy about protecting all these different ecosystems.

[1:27:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): ecosystems that's been broken out into specific um environmental ecosystem that that worries me

[1:27:56] Voice 9: because you know how um i'm not you know i'm more worried that this is just going to be

[1:28:02] Voice 9: way too much burden on the islands i mean so we're going to have to hire experts and all those

[1:28:08] Voice 9: eight different ecosystems um and to make sensible policy like like you know i mean i

[1:28:18] Voice 9: I, I, yeah, I, I don't know, you have Shell, and you have, you know, eight different ecosystems,

[1:28:25] Voice 9: you have Shell with like, and you talk about the reconciliation, you know, you talk about,

[1:28:31] Voice 9: I mean, like, you have a zillion things under that, you know, and, and, you know, and reconciliation

[1:28:37] Voice 9: is another thing, I think, you know, we should be dealing with the local bands and the people

[1:28:42] Voice 9: with historic ties to our little islands. But I don't think we as Islands Trust should be doing

[1:28:47] Voice 9: doing big collaborations at you know with at the federal level or the provincial level i think we

[1:28:52] Voice 9: have to stay in our little lane as other other bodies are going to resolve what is a super

[1:28:58] Voice 9: complex issue um and um but we clearly should be working you know with our neighbors and and um

[1:29:07] Voice 9: you know and the historic you know neighbors if that makes any sense like the ones that maybe not

[1:29:12] Voice 9: be present like you know we have penelaket but you know there's other bands that have interest

[1:29:16] Voice 9: in the area but but i don't think that means that we should be running the whole reconciliation for

[1:29:22] Voice 9: the province you know and and the way these policies are written they are they sound grand

[1:29:27] Voice 9: and we don't have a you know i hate to say sound like a word about the budget but you know there's

[1:29:35] Voice 9: a lot of burden on owners to do a lot of expectations from the island's trust like

[1:29:40] Voice 9: you know like like we're supposed to be paying for all these ecological assessments and everything

[1:29:44] Voice 9: when other agencies are dealing with it even the issue about water you know like water is

[1:29:49] Voice 9: legislated outside of us you know and and i think we we need to like take all these things but kind

[1:29:59] Voice 9: kind of slow them.

[1:30:00] Voice 9: down to where we can actually make a difference and not be i don't know i i the trust just the

[1:30:05] Voice 9: policy statement sounds like the grandest thing forever and that we're going to be hiring extra

[1:30:10] Voice 9: consultants if you want to you know build something on your property you're going to have to

[1:30:16] Voice 9: we're all going to i mean to me it looks like you're going to push dpas on on all those areas

[1:30:21] Voice 9: of the environment you know unlike us which has very few dpas right and and other you know other

[1:30:28] Voice 9: islands have greater needs than others i just i just think to make it all the same is going to be

[1:30:33] Voice 9: an issue i think yeah i think you're reading me the wrong way actually i think i'm more worried

[1:30:37] Voice 9: about i mean we should be protecting the environment but i think you look at this

[1:30:40] Voice 9: and people are going to be rebelling right and saying this is just too much you know maybe you

[1:30:45] Voice 9: know basically too much government reach you know like that's what it looks like

[1:30:50] Voice 9: and um you know thetis has been run very collegially usually and and it's it's you

[1:30:56] Voice 9: you know why a lot of us probably you know bought places here and moved here right like it's it's

[1:31:01] Voice 9: been a relatively you know not full of dispute island right you know and um and and i worry with

[1:31:11] Voice 9: more regulations it's just going to get more like some of the other islands where there's lots of

[1:31:19] Voice 9: conflict and stuff so i don't know that's my concern but i might be wrong like i i don't

[1:31:25] Voice 9: fully understand what these these grand statements mean what does shell mean like what does that list

[1:31:31] Voice 9: of all the different aspects of the environment mean like i don't really understand what it means

[1:31:35] Voice 9: to the individual well

[1:31:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): just let me take one question about that directive policy on

[1:31:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): reconciliation so there's only one directive policy in which all local trust committee bylaws

[1:31:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): being developed you we already do this we already engage with indigenous governing bodies we ask

[1:31:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): And it is a requirement that anyone, any body or agency that whose interests may be affected by a proposed bylaw has the right to comment on that.

[1:32:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): And so the ministry does essentially download, we are actually a provincial agency, a little bit more than a local government.

[1:32:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): There's sort of a different

[1:32:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): body, but in the development of all of our bylaws, we refer them to Indigenous governing bodies.

[1:32:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): That is not, that is a practice right now.

[1:32:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): It is a requirement and that's not enshrined in our current policy statement.

[1:32:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): So all the directive policy 3.11.

[1:32:34] Voice 9: No, the directive policy mentioned missing women and didn't it?

[1:32:40] Voice 9: I got to look it over again,

[1:32:41] Voice 9: but it was like a list of all these different things we should be attributing

[1:32:44] Voice 9: to like, you know, the UN statement, the blank.

[1:32:47] Voice 9: And I know missing women was in there and I felt like, well, fine.

[1:32:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): principles not a directive policy so there there is a difference between guiding

[1:32:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): principles you

[1:32:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): know here's here's the things to keep in mind as you're developing your bylaws like who's not being

[1:33:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): included in the conversation those are guiding principles that is not a directive policy i was

[1:33:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): referring to 3.11 which is okay

[1:33:11] Voice 9: okay okay okay there

[1:33:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): is a difference and the advisory ones are

[1:33:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): are still, they are optional, they are, they signal an intent, we'd like to move in this

[1:33:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): direction. And as Jason said, in the development of say, intergovernmental protocol agreements,

[1:33:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): you might

[1:33:29] Voice 9: look to talk about land transfers to native bodies and things like that, which I think

[1:33:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): advisory policy, advisory. That is, that's listed as an advisory policy. And so the land back

[1:33:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): advisory policy is actually a specific it's speaking about a specific tool which is a

[1:33:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): community amenity contribution and that is ratified by bylaw the community would have

[1:33:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): a say in it in the development of that bylaw it's just providing the the a lens of could

[1:34:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): indigenous governing bodies be included as recipients of a community amenity contribution

[1:34:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): if there was a rezoning that would allocate more densities for a developer let's say

[1:34:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): so but again it's optional up to each community to take that on or not okay

[1:34:21] Voice 13: yeah

[1:34:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): so i don't think

[1:34:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): it's as broad like it's not fundamentally can you see why it might be helpful to have a community

[1:34:29] Voice 9: meeting discuss this i hear

[1:34:30] Voice 9: you like like like i think i you know i i guess i'm sounding negative

[1:34:35] Voice 9: but i actually will not want to sound so negative i because i honestly you know like lots of it

[1:34:41] Voice 9: it sounds wonderful, right? And very reasonable. But then I was sitting down and saying, but what

[1:34:47] Voice 9: actually does all this mean? And then I get, I don't know, like, this sounds like huge overreach.

[1:34:57] Voice 9: So I think a discussion, and I was talking to one of my friends, I said, I honestly don't know

[1:35:03] Voice 9: what to think about it. Because it's, because, you know, I don't have time to go to every single

[1:35:09] Voice 9: meeting that you do, I'm sorry, which you probably don't have time to do either.

[1:35:12] Voice 9: but um you know like and i just i just it's more of a plea to like you know we should probably have

[1:35:20] Voice 9: talk about it as an island because i don't know that's what i think we should do but that's all

[1:35:25] Voice 9: i should stop talking

[1:35:27] Voice 9: now um

[1:35:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): do people still have the opportunity to submit a comment um so the

[1:35:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): public engagement period is closed i just want to clarify what are the next steps um can people

[1:35:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): people still look at this document, ask questions of their trustees, and submit any comments.

[1:35:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you.

[1:35:48] Voice 2: Absolutely.

[1:35:49] Voice 2: Correspondence is still welcome to Trust Council.

[1:35:52] Voice 2: The only sort of difference now with the engagement window closed is that it will wind up being

[1:35:57] Voice 2: posted to the project website, which where trustees go to review it, or any members of

[1:36:02] Voice 2: the public can go to review all the correspondence that's been received.

[1:36:04] Voice 2: It just won't form part of a formal report that we provide to Trust Council.

[1:36:09] Voice 2: by the same token you can of course contact your local trustees anytime you want through whatever

[1:36:16] Voice 2: channel they make themselves available so you can share your questions or concerns with them

[1:36:20] Voice 2: i'm sitting at my desk every day if you if you have some specific questions about the document

[1:36:25] Voice 2: that you would like to put to me to about it sort of on the more technical side than the political

[1:36:30] Voice 2: side um yeah so opportunity opportunity abounds to continue to communicate your questions or

[1:36:39] Voice 2: concerns to the islands trust about and

[1:36:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): that would be right up until third reading so we've just had

[1:36:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): first reading this is the draft document and all that means is council is comfortable enough

[1:36:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): to put this out for public comment right so this is not a final document and staff will be bringing

[1:36:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): like jason said bringing that back to hopefully a spring maybe a summer meeting and we'll look at

[1:37:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): are there changes that need to be made before it needs to advance to second and third reading and

[1:37:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): we can still accept comments from the public and that'll be posted the website david i see you have

[1:37:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): one more question and then i'd like to give us a break at oh sorry go ahead jason yep would you

[1:37:21] Voice 2: mind chair if i just touched on on something that kathleen brought up there you know i would like to

[1:37:25] Voice 2: to validate i think what what kathleen said which is her observation that these are these directive

[1:37:32] Voice 2: policies are significant commitments by the Islands Trust to follow through and do the things

[1:37:38] Voice 2: that are outlined in here. And soon, ideally at its March meeting, I hope, Trust Council is going

[1:37:44] Voice 2: to begin turning its mind to how this document will be implemented if it advances in its current

[1:37:52] Voice 2: form and what the implications are for the Islands Trust as a government body and also

[1:37:59] Voice 2: potentially for landowners as well. What does it look like to do the things that Trust Council has

[1:38:05] Voice 2: said that it's going to do through this policy statement? What does it mean to identify and

[1:38:10] Voice 2: prioritize the preservation and protection of coastal oak and prairie ecosystems? You know,

[1:38:14] Voice 2: obviously, there is a suite of land use planning tools that a local trust committee can apply,

[1:38:21] Voice 2: which are laid out in part 14 of the Local Government Act. And that is how it will

[1:38:27] Voice 2: potentially bring these policies to life. And so Trust Council is going to turn its mind to

[1:38:35] Voice 2: what that is going to look like in the years ahead. And optimal implementation of this document

[1:38:42] Voice 2: will be a multi-many year endeavor, I think.

[1:38:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah. Thank you for that, Jason. I just want

[1:38:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): to recognize David, perhaps our final speaker on this, and we can let staff go to the rest of

[1:38:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): their work which is probably a lot of

[1:38:59] Voice 8: correspondence uh go ahead david we can't hear you i don't know

[1:39:09] Voice 8: if you need to take your

[1:39:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): uh mute or click your mute button there there

[1:39:16] Voice 13: i'm uh can you hear me

[1:39:17] Voice 13: now i just wanted to kind of point out we've had four speakers and all of them have lamented the

[1:39:25] Voice 13: the lack of a public meeting now i understand that we are out of the um the the uh formal

[1:39:35] Voice 13: process where it's going to go and become a document that'll be on the internet for no one

[1:39:40] Voice 13: to read um uh but i think a public meeting is not necessarily about as much of having um a document

[1:39:51] Voice 13: as uh sharing with the community the the uh the thing the plan i i firmly believe that we

[1:40:01] Voice 13: we could still pull this off if uh if you guys have the political will to to uh to make it happen

[1:40:08] Voice 13: um and that's basically call up uh the community center and book a date um

[1:40:16] Voice 13: Um, uh, and, uh, and, uh, and then I'm sure there'd be some people and then ask for a

[1:40:22] Voice 13: few people to help you put it on and it'll, it'll, it'll happen.

[1:40:26] Voice 13: Um, and so that'd be my point, my point, I guess, uh, to, uh, uh, Kathleen's, uh, thing

[1:40:33] Voice 13: about the, the time is that the, the, there is only going to be a limited budget.

[1:40:38] Voice 13: it and uh uh so yes you may need to have a uh a a um gary oak expert talk about how to deal with

[1:40:50] Voice 13: gary oaks but uh but if you don't have the money to to do that that won't happen for 10 years or

[1:40:58] Voice 13: or or whatever the uh the timeline the uh the trust council chooses and thanks thanks for the

[1:41:06] Voice 13: time thank

[1:41:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): you for those comments david appreciate it very much um okay well i think we have heard um

[1:41:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): yes some significant concerns about process definitely noted that uh desire for an in-person

[1:41:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): meeting i think the trust committee can discuss whether that's feasible and further opportunity

[1:41:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): for um comments and submissions on this document it's ongoing and i just see trustee luckham has

[1:41:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): joined us so we have just wrapped up our conversation questions and comments on the

[1:41:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): policy statement so i'm thinking we could take maybe a do we want to just carry on into public

[1:41:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): comments generally and then take a recess how's everyone feeling

[1:42:00] Trustee Luckham: i'd be i'd be happy to i can't

[1:42:03] Trustee Luckham: see how many people are on your list but i would be happy to acknowledge any public comment with

[1:42:10] Trustee Luckham: regard to other matters um particularly howling wolf i'll just say that um uh because perhaps

[1:42:17] Trustee Luckham: uh those folks also have other things to do with their day and um we certainly uh i know that

[1:42:24] Trustee Luckham: we want to hear from them as well so that's up your call you're the chair yep

[1:42:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): no we'd scheduled

[1:42:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): to public comment um immediately following so i'm happy to flow into that if anybody would like to

[1:42:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): address the local trust committee and jason and joe you are free to go if you have other places

[1:42:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): to be or other things to do now we'll open the public comment period for general comments and

[1:42:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): information for the local trust committee questions queries noting that we do have manager warren

[1:42:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): Dingman, available for questions on by-law enforcement and compliance processes. Thank

[1:43:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): you, Warren, for joining us today. Same process, folks, just put up your hand if you wish to be

[1:43:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): recognized and to speak. And go ahead, Mr. Ralston.

[1:43:23] Voice 15: Sure. I have a general comment that

[1:43:29] Voice 15: that occurred to me when I was thinking about the situation

[1:43:33] Voice 15: with Howlin' Wolf Farm.

[1:43:40] Voice 15: And that is that when we look at the OCP and the bylaw,

[1:43:45] Voice 15: and this goes rather well with the earlier discussion

[1:43:48] Voice 15: about the policy statement,

[1:43:51] Voice 15: every piece of wording in there

[1:43:54] Voice 15: carries a risk of unintended consequences.

[1:43:57] Voice 15: consequences so a bylaw or a statement or what have you that is put in place

[1:44:04] Voice 15: with the best of all possible intentions as lynn said or kathleen said i think

[1:44:11] Voice 15: you know many of these things seem very you know easy to accept right but you know when you examine

[1:44:20] Voice 15: and then carefully, you see that they carry some risk.

[1:44:24] Voice 15: And currently, that risk is primarily borne by the property owner.

[1:44:33] Voice 15: In the case of Howling Wolf Farm, they somehow have to prove their innocence,

[1:44:39] Voice 15: even though my understanding is that the Island's Trust has, in the past, approved what they're doing.

[1:44:47] Voice 15: Now, I'm not going to get into making any arguments about that because I'm not all that familiar with the situation, but I think it would be a very good thing if on Thetis Island we were able to examine our OCP and our bylaw, look at every provision and say,

[1:45:11] Voice 15: is this provision absolutely 100% necessary in order to preserve and protect the environment

[1:45:20] Voice 15: of Thetis Island? Or is it absolutely 100% necessary in order to support a sustainable

[1:45:30] Voice 15: community on Thetis Island? So many, many of the provisions are nice, but they're not 100%

[1:45:41] Voice 15: essential. And the one that Peter mentioned in his email on e-spokes about this particular case was

[1:45:53] Voice 15: the idea that you're only allowed to have home occupation or actually any use of a lot if you're

[1:46:00] Voice 15: occupying it residentially, if it's a residentially zoned lot. Now, this sounds like a fine idea

[1:46:08] Voice 15: do because we can imagine a situation from, I don't know, I'm sure staff will come up with

[1:46:13] Voice 15: some situations from Salt Spring where somebody essentially ends up building a hotel on a

[1:46:18] Voice 15: residential property or something like this and not living on it. But in the real world,

[1:46:26] Voice 15: that wording leads to an unintended consequence here. And is that wording really necessary? Is

[1:46:37] Voice 15: Is there a history on Thetis Island of severe problems being caused by people carrying on

[1:46:46] Voice 15: some sort of activity on a lot that they own, but that is not occupied by them with a legal

[1:46:53] Voice 15: dwelling?

[1:46:54] Voice 15: It might be a neighboring lot, as in this case, or it might even be a recreational lot

[1:47:00] Voice 15: that they own and come and camp on once a year or something.

[1:47:02] Voice 15: thing. Now, I have not come across a situation where somebody who doesn't live on their property

[1:47:12] Voice 15: is causing this kind of severe impact on Therese Island. I'm not talking about some sort of

[1:47:19] Voice 15: minor inconvenience. I'm talking about major impact on the environment or major negative

[1:47:26] Voice 15: impact on the neighboring properties. So to me, if I was reviewing that particular

[1:47:37] Voice 15: piece of wording, I would say get rid of it. I would say that the bylaw and the OCP

[1:47:45] Voice 15: should match the needs of the people and the environment, not some sort of generic wording

[1:47:54] Voice 15: that was put together by somebody because of some problem that occurred somewhere or

[1:48:02] Voice 15: because their application of the precautionary principle led to this thing or whatever.

[1:48:09] Voice 15: So I'd say instead of carrying out enforcement on the pegs, I'd say carry out some enforcement

[1:48:16] Voice 15: on the bylaw and just get rid of that provision.

[1:48:20] Voice 15: One of the really positive outcomes of doing so would be that if somebody wanted to use a property for agricultural purposes to grow food, but they did not live on it, they could happily say to Jollity Farm or Howling Wolf Farm, for that matter, go ahead, use my piece of property for this, and that would be fine, whereas now it wouldn't be fine.

[1:48:51] Voice 15: so that's just one small positive outcome and i really really challenge people to come up with

[1:49:02] Voice 15: a serious with serious evidence of real harm that would occur if you got rid of that clause

[1:49:09] Voice 15: so yeah anyway that's that's just my comment enforce it on the bible instead of on the people

[1:49:17] Voice 15: in this case so

[1:49:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): i will note that we have a project before the local trust committee to amend the land

[1:49:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): use bylaw and it has um before we can do any work we have a charter that sets out what are the

[1:49:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): provisions that are going to be considered for amendment um it is quite a process to amend the

[1:49:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): land use bylaw it cannot just be done on a um right

[1:49:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): so um perhaps manager dingman do you have

[1:49:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): any comments on um by law enforcement compliance and in particular investigation um

[1:49:56] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: well first i

[1:49:59] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: would just like to comment that or it's i think it's universal in all land use bylaws that uh

[1:50:06] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: in order to have accessory uses you must have a principal permitted use

[1:50:11] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: uh especially on residential properties um and that's consistent with all of the islands trust

[1:50:17] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: trust bylaws. Although there are some where, yes,

[1:50:20] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: you could have agriculture as a principal permitted use,

[1:50:23] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: the Thetis Island bylaw, I do not believe says that,

[1:50:26] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: but for the other bylaws within the Islands Trust,

[1:50:31] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: that's just a standard. Your accessory uses,

[1:50:34] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and that's what we're talking about here.

[1:50:37] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: For this building, this market,

[1:50:43] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: there's no principal permitted use.

[1:50:45] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: use, and so the accessory uses aren't permitted. There's a dock that is also supposed to be

[1:50:51] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: accessory to a principal permitted use, in this case a residence. So that's where we're

[1:50:58] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: running into issues that we're trying to resolve. The entire process is trying to seek voluntary

[1:51:05] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: compliance and we work with all property owners towards voluntary compliance. There's options

[1:51:11] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: for property owners to follow.

[1:51:16] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And I believe in this case,

[1:51:17] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: there are steps being taken

[1:51:19] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: to try and establish a principle of permitted use,

[1:51:22] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: which would allow the property owner

[1:51:26] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: to have certain home occupation uses on the property

[1:51:30] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: or perhaps what they consider a farm stand.

[1:51:35] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Over to you, Chair.

[1:51:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you so much, Warren.

[1:51:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I do know there has been a lot of concern

[1:51:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): raised in the community

[1:51:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): about um enforcement but just wanted to emphasize the um we're always seeking voluntary compliance

[1:51:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): and to work through a process it's never just a fine and um and um it really does need to be

[1:52:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): a process of engagement to understand the provisions of the land use bylaw um but your

[1:52:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): point is taken that perhaps that revisions to the land use bylaw do need to suit the community and

[1:52:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): how it has evolved is there anybody who wishes to address the local trust committee please just

[1:52:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): raise your hand and or ask a question or speak on any matters in the jurisdiction of the thetis

[1:52:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): local trust committee um okay i'll go to lynn i've got a few who haven't spoken for i do see

[1:52:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): you lynn and ian but i'm going to go to first time speakers um there's an iphone and a christopher

[1:52:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): um nope the hands just went down okay lynn has lynn

[1:52:58] Voice 8: go ahead and

[1:53:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): you are muted still

[1:53:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): I

[1:53:09] Voice 20: apologize. All this technology. One of the things that I think that, you know, the documentation that the pegs have provided to the community have brought forward many questions with regards to possibly that the land that the farm stand is on is a lease.

[1:53:37] Voice 20: and that ALR, ALC has approved that and that, you know, it appears that some of the documentation

[1:53:49] Voice 20: and Islands Trust are out of sync in regards to ALR, ALC land and uses. So that's part of it.

[1:54:03] Voice 20: And this seems like this one property has been, a complaint has been filed.

[1:54:11] Voice 20: So now do all of us on Thetis expect to have a knock on our door that everybody who's out

[1:54:22] Voice 20: of compliance is now going to be targeted with complaints?

[1:54:26] Voice 20: complaints it's a it's a bit of um a feel that we are uh an island lots of things have happened

[1:54:34] Voice 20: on the island and uh that i'm sure that there's a lot of non-compliance and yes compliance is

[1:54:43] Voice 20: um complaint driven but it feels that this complaint has definitely uh targeted one

[1:54:54] Voice 20: specific property and I have concerns about the rest of the property is on

[1:55:03] Voice 20: fetus so if anybody if mr. Dingman could speak to the difference between Islands

[1:55:13] Voice 20: Trust and the agricultural regulations that possibly are on this property it

[1:55:20] Voice 20: it would be greatly appreciated.

[1:55:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): Please go ahead, Warren.

[1:55:28] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: So through the chair, the property is not in the ALR.

[1:55:32] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: It's zoned, so I'm looking at our mapping,

[1:55:35] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: residential one or rural one,

[1:55:38] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: which I just want to double check if I'm referencing.

[1:55:45] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Rural residential is what it's zoned, the R1.

[1:55:50] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: The property behind it, the larger property

[1:55:53] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: property with the common ownership is within the ALR. And I guess the property owner could try and

[1:56:02] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: amalgamate that property into his larger property and have it brought into the ALR. Those applications

[1:56:12] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: I believe are possible. I don't know how feasible it is, but currently the property is not within

[1:56:17] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: the ALR, so those regulations wouldn't apply. It's the land use bylaw that applies here.

[1:56:24] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: In regards to complaints on Thetis, Thetis actually receives very few complaints,

[1:56:32] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: so I don't believe there should be a concern about a rash of any type of complaint for different

[1:56:38] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: issues on Thetis. This is, it is common where there, I know there's always concern about,

[1:56:45] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: well, if someone can complain against property A,

[1:56:48] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: then all the other properties with the same issue may receive a complaint.

[1:56:52] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: But that very rarely happens.

[1:56:56] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: This is very specific concerns about uses that are present

[1:57:01] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and new construction just without that principle permitted use.

[1:57:06] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And that is required in the land use bylaw.

[1:57:10] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Over to you, Chair.

[1:57:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you, Warren.

[1:57:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): Lauren, I'd like to recognize a person who hasn't spoken before via iPhone, if we could

[1:57:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): promote them to speaker, and oh good, you've been able to unmute yourself.

[1:57:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): Hello and welcome.

[1:57:30] Voice 10: Thank you.

[1:57:30] Voice 10: My name is Shelley Colhut-Harder, and we are neighbors to Colin Wolfe, and I just wanted

[1:57:37] Voice 10: to make a few comments, and I wanted to ask some questions.

[1:57:41] Voice 10: So I'm just wondering if anybody on the board there has read or received a letter from my neighbor Nan in regards to this that was posted on Facebook.

[1:57:56] Voice 10: Yes,

[1:57:58] Trustee Luckham: I have received that letter.

[1:58:01] Voice 10: Okay. So does everyone here know what's in that letter? Because if not, I'd like to read it into the record.

[1:58:10] Trustee Luckham: Chair, I think it's part of the public record already, but over to you.

[1:58:14] Trustee Luckham: Yeah.

[1:58:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): And I do have questions because we do not adjudicate bylaw enforcement processes. There is a separation between the political body. We don't interfere with investigations. So we are not the decision makers about the process of compliance and enforcement, which is why Manager Dingman is here.

[1:58:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I think the comments have been received. We've received a lot of comments and input. However, this is a matter that the bylaw enforcement office has to conduct separate to the political process.

[1:58:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I'm not

[1:58:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): sure appealing to

[1:58:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): the local trust committee. Say again?

[1:59:00] Voice 10: I will continue with my other comments then.

[1:59:04] Voice 10: so my one one of my concerns is the fact that this is uh all come about as a result of an

[1:59:11] Voice 10: anonymous complaint and we have also been uh targeted with an anonymous complaint that that

[1:59:20] Voice 10: created quite a bit of uh expense for us well we went about proving that our our development

[1:59:26] Voice 10: complied but my problem is if you go to a court of law you have the right to face your accuser

[1:59:33] Voice 10: Why do we have to accept anonymous complaints that have to be dealt on with?

[1:59:39] Voice 10: Shouldn't a complainant have to put their name forward?

[1:59:43] Voice 10: And I think that would be something that would be a good policy to implement in the future.

[1:59:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): That's a great question.

[1:59:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): Manager Dingman, do we accept anonymous complaints?

[1:59:53] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: So, Chair, we do not accept anonymous complaints, but all complainant information.

[2:00:00] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: is kept confidential and so what the complainant is doing is raising concerns or they're witnessing

[2:00:08] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: something that they're concerned about that information comes to me I decide whether or

[2:00:13] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: not to open a file a bylaw officer investigates and if then there's any determination of a

[2:00:21] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: contravention that comes from the bylaw officer it doesn't come from the complainant in fact

[2:00:27] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: In fact, really, the complaining information gets very little weight, to be honest.

[2:00:35] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: We have a process to follow if we get a written complaint from an individual, and that means

[2:00:40] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: they've identified themselves, and we can speak to them, then we're going to proceed

[2:00:45] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: with that complaint because it's not anonymous.

[2:00:47] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And if we find that there's been an offense of some type, we'll identify it and ask the

[2:00:52] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: property owner to comply.

[2:00:53] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: If we can't identify this person who makes this complaint, we're not going to proceed on it.

[2:00:59] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And this has happened recently in another island where the complainant, we can't make contact with

[2:01:05] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: them. So I have to then consider that to be an anonymous complaint and then no action is taken.

[2:01:11] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And that's the longstanding policy and it's being reinforced and new trust council policies are

[2:01:18] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: They're going to address issues of vexatious or retaliatory complaints, I believe, in a very thorough way to alleviate the concerns that are always there that people are being targeted by anonymous individuals.

[2:01:32] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And to answer your question directly, the complainant is not your accuser.

[2:01:36] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Islands Trust or the bylaw officer is your accuser of any wrongdoing or of an offense.

[2:01:43] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Over to you, Chair.

[2:01:45] Voice 10: I appreciate that response.

[2:01:47] Voice 10: response, I am especially concerned about retaliatory complaints, as I have good reason

[2:01:56] Voice 10: to believe that that has happened in a couple of different other cases. Well, in my case and in

[2:02:02] Voice 10: this one here, but without naming names, I cannot go into that further. So it would be good to see

[2:02:07] Voice 10: something coming about on that issue. My other concern is that we are neighbors to Howling Wolf.

[2:02:15] Voice 10: We're right directly across the road.

[2:02:17] Voice 10: We were also south of the coffee business that Nan ran.

[2:02:22] Voice 10: And we find these to be wonderful assets to our community,

[2:02:26] Voice 10: as well as Jollity Farms up the road and the marinas.

[2:02:31] Voice 10: Thetis Island does not have an awful lot of access to a lot of amenities,

[2:02:36] Voice 10: and they feel a real need for our community.

[2:02:39] Voice 10: And they have been there in a long, quite a while, longer than we've been there.

[2:02:43] Voice 10: And my understanding is over 20 years. And I'm just wondering if there's not another way that we can handle this while you are going about changing regulations that you said may take a long, long time.

[2:02:55] Voice 10: Cannot the property be a rezoned or to grandfathered or the enforcement of howling wolf be put on hold until such time as the regulations can be changed to adapt for this type of need that our community has?

[2:03:08] Voice 10: So

[2:03:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): that's a specific question that I think would be discussed in camera. Any direction from the local trust committee to bylaw enforcement, we'd need reporting first. And I understand there's still an investigation phase.

[2:03:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): So staff are engaged with the property owner that is out of the local trust committee's hands at this moment.

[2:03:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): If things proceed and I don't know, I asked maybe Warren, if you could clarify if the local trust committee can give direction to desist or defer enforcement.

[2:03:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): But we cannot interfere with the process of an investigation is my understanding.

[2:03:54] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: So, Chair, the Local Trust Committee could ask for a report regarding this property.

[2:03:58] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: For the most part, I think the investigation is complete.

[2:04:01] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: So, if the Local Trust Committee wants to consider further action against this property,

[2:04:06] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: they can ask for an in-camera report, which is the usual process,

[2:04:10] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and then you can make decisions based on that report.

[2:04:14] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: The Local Trust Committee can also do what other local trust areas have done.

[2:04:19] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: One, other local trust committees have considered local bylaw compliance enforcement policies,

[2:04:25] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and you could request one for Thetis that may address these type of issues.

[2:04:31] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: I know just, and also between Director Cermak and myself, the Director of Planning,

[2:04:37] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: we have determined that, made a decision that for minor issues such as farm stands,

[2:04:47] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: we would not enforce on that.

[2:04:49] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: However, I don't know that the Howling Wolf operation is a minor farm stand, which may not comply with the land use bylaw.

[2:04:59] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: I think it's of a greater scale than just a small farm stand.

[2:05:04] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: But the local trust committee could certainly look at adopting policies that might defer enforcement regarding these issues in the short term and provide other policy, adopt policies that might address concerns about, say, vexatious complaints as other local trust committees have done.

[2:05:28] Voice 10: Thank you.

[2:05:28] Voice 10: I appreciate that.

[2:05:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thanks for that, Lauren.

[2:05:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): And is that all your comments and questions?

[2:05:33] Voice 10: Yes, it is.

[2:05:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay, excellent.

[2:05:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): we'll turn to Mr. Ralston

[2:05:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): you have your hand up

[2:05:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): sorry

[2:05:41] Voice 15: to keep going on

[2:05:42] Voice 15: that was useful Warren

[2:05:46] Voice 15: and I think what you said

[2:05:49] Voice 15: about the sort of rather universal nature

[2:05:52] Voice 15: of that sort of wording in bylaws

[2:05:55] Voice 15: is exactly my point

[2:05:58] Voice 15: is that it may be something that suits

[2:06:02] Voice 15: other islands universally

[2:06:03] Voice 15: but that doesn't necessarily justify it being

[2:06:07] Voice 15: used on thetis island and taking your comment as sort of typical of a staff comment in this

[2:06:17] Voice 15: kind of situation i feel that local trust committees are often led to enact by law

[2:06:26] Voice 15: wording that is generic because that's kind of an easy way to deal with things

[2:06:32] Voice 15: And I would be interested in your comments on whether you have seen any evidence of, you know, serious negative impact that would be contrary to the principles of the Islands Trust in terms of preserving and protecting the environment caused by this kind of usage on Thetis Island.

[2:07:02] Voice 15: So that's one question. The other one is that I think that when we see these situations where many, many people in a community would be out of compliance with some aspects of a bylaw,

[2:07:30] Voice 15: it draws my concern that there are problems with the um with the bylaw because you know if everybody

[2:07:42] Voice 15: is out of compliance in one way or another then the problem may not be the people it may be the

[2:07:50] Voice 15: bylaw itself that's right

[2:07:52] Voice 15: um you know that's and obviously warren you can't really comment on that

[2:07:57] Voice 15: because that's definitely a political question but um i would be interested in your answer to the

[2:08:05] Voice 15: first question um and that would be it thank

[2:08:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): you and i just want to recognize uh renee has her hand

[2:08:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): up we could go to you next but if you have a comment on this as well through the chair um

[2:08:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): And Warren may have something to provide. I'm also mindful to note for this public comment section and for the members of the public in the LTC, the time for the public comments is to hear.

[2:08:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): So we may not be able to, with staff, get into deep discussion, but that could be something the local trust committee can further ponder and give some direction to staff if you'd like us to look into something.

[2:08:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that reminder, Rene.

[2:08:57] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Would you like me to comment, Chair?

[2:08:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): If you have an answer, that would be great to hear.

[2:09:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thanks, Warren.

[2:09:02] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: So when we're investigating any complaint,

[2:09:06] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: we're actually not looking or very rarely looking for negative impacts.

[2:09:13] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: The current policy, Trust Council policies,

[2:09:15] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: will refer to health and safety concerns.

[2:09:18] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And certainly if there's work done near water,

[2:09:21] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: we would be concerned about that.

[2:09:23] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and the issues with this property are also concerning construction along the foreshore

[2:09:30] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: that is not considered to be lawful so we would look at that environmental impact

[2:09:35] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: as far as the howling farm operation itself on that lot no i don't believe there's any

[2:09:41] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: negative impacts this is a straightforward are there bylaw contraventions and are we required

[2:09:48] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: to proceed with enforcement against those contraventions?

[2:09:52] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Yes, we ask for voluntary compliance first.

[2:09:56] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And just in general, our process is complaint-driven,

[2:10:00] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and one of the reasons why it's complaint-driven

[2:10:02] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: is because almost all occupied properties in any way

[2:10:06] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: have bylaw contraventions on it,

[2:10:08] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and that's really almost universal.

[2:10:11] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: There are, in the end, land-use bylaws are very restrictive,

[2:10:18] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and once people start developing on their properties there can even be just minor

[2:10:23] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: contraventions and we just don't have the resources to pursue all contraventions so

[2:10:28] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: that's why the process is complaint driven from people that we can identify and yes your local

[2:10:35] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: trust committee can certainly address some of these issues as i stated before with adopting

[2:10:40] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: policies or they can review their bylaws and make amendments as they see necessary to minimize the

[2:10:46] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: impact of their regulations and any conflict that may occur over to you chair thank

[2:10:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): you and i would

[2:10:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): just yeah note for the public's information that a very comprehensive bylaw enforcement and

[2:11:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): compliance review has been ongoing by trust council um i've been a member of a regional

[2:11:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): planning committee since the beginning of that and there's been a number of uh changes recommended

[2:11:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): ended that Trust Council will probably consider in March. But one of those is the development of

[2:11:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): a template specific for each LTC, which some LTCs have already employed. And that directs

[2:11:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): which are priorities for enforcement and investigation, and which might be deferred

[2:11:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): or might be, you know, considered in other ways. So it's an active work in progress.

[2:11:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): but as warren noted probably most of the properties in the gulf islands have some

[2:11:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): kind of contravention so it is not the intent to pursue and get compliance on every single one

[2:11:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): um let's keep seeing hands going up and down uh christopher uh as a first-time speaker would you

[2:12:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): like to address the local trust committee um or administrator's phone yeah i'm not sure what

[2:12:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): happened but administrators iphone if you want to unmute yourself and or christopher i'm trying

[2:12:21] Voice 14: to unmute um there

[2:12:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): you are we can yeah great

[2:12:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): we can hear you thank

[2:12:27] Voice 14: you well um thank you for your

[2:12:29] Voice 14: time i'm christopher peg the owner of the howling wolf farm and the howling wolf farm market and the

[2:12:35] Voice 14: doc and i appreciate this discussion today i just wanted to make uh two brief points because i know

[2:12:43] Voice 14: we don't have much time. Briefly, I would want to ask how many times do we have to go through

[2:12:50] Voice 14: the process? The dock was given a license of occupation in 2007, and the Islands Trust

[2:12:59] Voice 14: approved that, a gentleman named Mark Brodick. And then we were given specific permission for

[2:13:06] Voice 14: private moorage in 2019 by the province, and also the Islands Trust was part of that.

[2:13:13] Voice 14: Since that time, we've been paying fees, taxes, and so on. The dock is not a new construction. It's a renovation that has taken eight months. And it wasn't until the Christmas of 2024 that I received a letter saying that there had been a written complaint.

[2:13:33] Voice 14: complaint. I haven't seen the complaint yet, but I've applied to see it from the Freedom of

[2:13:39] Voice 14: Information and hoping to get it by March the 10th. The other point I'd like to make briefly

[2:13:45] Voice 14: is that listening to all this today was very informative for me, but the letter of compliance

[2:13:54] Voice 14: I received June 25th of this year, it seems to me totally in contradiction to the draft policy

[2:14:02] Voice 14: statement that we've been discussing. For example, economic activities, support

[2:14:09] Voice 14: sustainable economic activities. I would put to you that's what the Hollywood

[2:14:13] Voice 14: farm is. Access to community docks, I would put to you that's why we've

[2:14:18] Voice 14: renovated the dock. Protection of agricultural rural lands, that a

[2:14:24] Voice 14: sustainable agriculture, food security, sharing coastal facilities, foster

[2:14:31] Voice 14: foster sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities.

[2:14:35] Voice 14: All of these things are what Howlingwood Farm is all about.

[2:14:40] Voice 14: And yet it seems so that we are in compliance with this draft policy statement.

[2:14:47] Voice 14: And I would ask, going forward, the only thing I can see that might be helpful is could we

[2:14:54] Voice 14: have a meeting, a community meeting of some sort to discuss this matter further?

[2:14:59] Voice 14: further. Thank you for your time.

[2:15:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you so much, Mr. Pegg. I appreciate your comments. It's not typical that we discuss

[2:15:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): individual bylaw enforcement issues at a community meeting would be what I would suggest. I think

[2:15:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): this is an active conversation and though the community is speaking out, we are hearing

[2:15:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): new and yeah I'm I think the LTC will be able to discuss that in our meeting any further comments

[2:15:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): or questions from attendees not seeing any hands up one more from Lynn Smith please go ahead

[2:15:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank

[2:15:54] Voice 20: you. I have a couple of questions for Mr. Dingman. Can R1 zoning have farm status?

[2:16:05] Voice 20: And the other question would be placement of a dwelling on the property. Does that require

[2:16:22] Voice 20: the owner of the property to live in that building of a home or on the property?

[2:16:33] Voice 20: Those are my two questions. Thank you.

[2:16:39] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: So, Chair, if there is a lawful dwelling placed on this property,

[2:16:46] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: property uh the tenant or resident in that dwelling should be part of the uh any type of

[2:16:56] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: home occupation that is a path towards compliance so no the owner of the property doesn't have to

[2:17:03] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: live there and operate some type of home occupation on it they can have essentially

[2:17:08] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: an employee living on the property and

[2:17:13] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: operating the business. And the

[2:17:20] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: other issue that you addressed was farm status.

[2:17:23] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Is that possible on this residential lot?

[2:17:27] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: I would say yes, as long as you

[2:17:32] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: are able to obtain that status from BC Assessment

[2:17:35] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and typically whatever their rules and guidelines are

[2:17:39] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: as far as the provision of farm receipts.

[2:17:44] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: It can have farm status.

[2:17:46] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: However, within the land use bylaw,

[2:17:49] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: agriculture is listed as an accessory use.

[2:17:53] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Again, accessory to a residential use.

[2:17:55] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: There are many land use bylaws in the Gulf Islands

[2:17:58] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: where agriculture can be a principal permitted use

[2:18:01] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: and then there can be structures accessory to that

[2:18:05] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: that would be permitted

[2:18:07] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: because you've established the principal permitted use.

[2:18:10] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: But currently, even if they established farm status on the lot,

[2:18:15] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: the land use pilot still requires that residential principal permitted use.

[2:18:21] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: And so I don't know if I answered this question before,

[2:18:24] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: if it was you that asked about rezoning and whatnot.

[2:18:27] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Yes, the property owner can go through a rezoning process,

[2:18:31] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: amalgamate the two to the larger properties.

[2:18:34] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: There are a number of options that they can pursue.

[2:18:36] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Over to you, Chair.

[2:18:38] Manager of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement: Thank you, Warren.

[2:18:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): Renee, did you have comments or reflections here?

[2:18:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): Just to follow up, to share any specific questions about a lot or land use, it's always good to give us a call at North Info, our northern office on Gabriel Island, or contact us to ask specific questions about zoning.

[2:19:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): I appreciate Manager Dingman is providing some high-level information, but there are nuances based on a property and what provincial and local regulations apply.

[2:19:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): So the email would be northinfo at islandstrust.bc.ca.

[2:19:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): And anyone who has a question about land use is welcome to contact us.

[2:19:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that, RPM Gemerat.

[2:19:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): um i i'm sensing we need to wrap this conversation up we're kind of going down into

[2:19:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): a very specific um bylaw contravention which as i've stated is is um you know currently being

[2:19:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): handled by staff uh you have an open invite to email the north info uh email if you've got

[2:19:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): specific questions if there's new comments or new information or new questions um we can

[2:20:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): still handle those but i'd like to sort of wrap this up in the next five minutes uh mr ralston

[2:20:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): do you have anything new to comment uh

[2:20:15] Voice 15: yeah something totally different um i was looking

[2:20:19] Voice 15: through the materials for this meeting and i must admit i kind of remember exactly where it was but

[2:20:27] Voice 15: there was some recommendation in there about um changing things in respect of unlicensed vehicles

[2:20:35] Voice 15: vehicles that are parked on properties. And I, you know, I understand where this came from

[2:20:42] Voice 15: because of that scrapyard that happened at the old, well, the place where the teacherage

[2:20:48] Voice 15: moved to here originally back in the day. But I've always thought that there's a big difference

[2:20:56] Voice 15: between a scrapyard and somebody parking an unlicensed vehicle on their property.

[2:21:03] Voice 15: And on Cetus Island, you know, a lot of people have unlicensed vehicles or at least uninsured

[2:21:13] Voice 15: licensed vehicles parked on their property.

[2:21:16] Voice 15: This ranges from boat trailers to cars that people use on the land but not on the road.

[2:21:24] Voice 15: And in fact, to cars that people use on the road illegally.

[2:21:27] Voice 15: legally. So I really, I think this is another place where we could one day see a complaint

[2:21:37] Voice 15: that is essentially what we were saying, vexatious in nature, because you could pick

[2:21:45] Voice 15: this as one of the non-compliance things that a lot of people have. And it can be very difficult

[2:21:52] Voice 15: for people to comply with, depending on how mobile the vehicle is at the time.

[2:21:57] Voice 15: So I suggest that that would be a great place to start exercising some caution over choice

[2:22:06] Voice 15: of language when working on bylaws in case somebody is thinking of actually putting this

[2:22:11] Voice 15: in the bylaw as a change.

[2:22:15] Voice 15: I think it was just changing the number of years involved.

[2:22:18] Voice 15: involved but i think personally the whole concept is trying to regulate the wrong thing if you're

[2:22:25] Voice 15: trying to stop people having a scrapyard you should probably just say that people shouldn't

[2:22:29] Voice 15: have a scrapyard not that people shouldn't park unlicensed vehicles on their property

[2:22:35] Voice 15: people have lots of reasons to keep them even just a parts car for example um very common over here

[2:22:44] Voice 15: So anyway, I thought this was a good carry-on example of potential unintended consequences from what seems like a good idea at the time.

[2:22:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you, Mr. Ralston. We'll consider your input as we discuss 11.1.

[2:23:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): And Christopher, do you have any new comments to make? Thank you. Go ahead.

[2:23:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): um

[2:23:13] Voice 14: yes i understand uh renee's uh comments and in the um consideration for time i will be in

[2:23:22] Voice 14: contact thank you very much excellent

[2:23:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): and we appreciate your engagement and willingness to uh

[2:23:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): to work with staff well i think we'll close public comment period and take our 30 minute break

[2:23:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): We'll resume. The agenda is, I believe we're at follow-up action on this 8.1 and 8.2. So we'll pick up there in about 30 minutes. Is that acceptable? Yes. RPM, Gemara?

[2:23:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair, I believe we have section five of the agenda under trustee reports and chair reports as well. And then we can move into number eight, business arising for a minute.

[2:24:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for catching that. Indeed, we skipped section five. So we'll pick up at five and then move into eight. Thank you, everybody, for your keen attention, engagement with the local trust committee, your questions. Very grateful. We'll see you in half an hour.

[2:24:28] Voice 8: Thank you.

[2:24:32] Voice 8: Thank you, Warren.

[2:54:58] Voice 8: Lisa I don't know if it's

[2:55:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): possible to change oh I can change my rename could you rename

[2:55:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): trustee Luckum I

[2:55:11] Voice 8: think he's still listed as chair I'll do that when he comes back in he's not here

[2:55:21] Voice 8: right now confusing

[2:55:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): for folks trustee

[2:56:00] Voice 5: Hunter are you there folks may have thought 12 30 so

[2:56:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): So you

[2:56:07] Voice 5: can wait a bit.

[2:56:10] Voice 17: Somebody talking to me?

[2:56:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): Oh, I just asked if you were there.

[2:56:14] Voice 17: Yeah, I was just coming in the door.

[2:56:17] Voice 5: Oh, yeah.

[2:56:19] Voice 5: Okay.

[2:56:20] Voice 5: I'm just waiting for it.

[2:56:21] Voice 5: Trustee Luckham.

[2:56:27] Voice 17: My video is not working.

[2:56:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): It happens.

[2:56:34] Voice 3: Trustee Hunter, this is Lisa.

[2:56:36] Voice 3: I did turn your video off.

[2:56:38] Voice 3: It was interfering with the break slide.

[2:56:41] Voice 3: It was superimposed on top of the break slide.

[2:56:44] Voice 3: So you'll just need to turn it back on.

[2:56:47] Voice 17: bad video boy

[2:57:15] Voice 8: is it muddy and wet it's

[2:57:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): like the worst time of year nobody likes

[2:57:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): rainforest i know it's good for the earth though i have to remind myself of that

[2:57:31] Voice 3: so just remind everybody that as we're not in a practice session the attendees are

[2:57:35] Voice 3: in the listening room with us

[2:57:36] Voice 5: well perhaps we

[2:57:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): should pick up and um go

[2:57:41] Voice 8: slowly thank you lisa

[2:58:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): Lisa. Okay. So we're back from our break, uh, resuming our, um, regularly scheduled

[2:58:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): the Desilin local trust committee meeting. Hello and welcome back everybody. Uh, we're going to

[2:58:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): pick up at section five, our reports section, um, waiting just a little bit. I think trustee

[2:58:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): is going to come in any moment. So trustee Hunter, the spotlight's on you. I can give my chair report

[2:58:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): and then uh we'll turn to trusty luck when he gets here okay

[2:58:38] Voice 17: um i just wanted to thank all those

[2:58:42] Voice 17: people that took the time to write in on the peg situation um i'm not going to comment on the

[2:58:50] Voice 17: situation but it was great that people took the time to do that and it shows the great community

[2:58:57] Voice 17: community spirit that we have here on fetus um I do have one comment about the uh something in the

[2:59:06] Voice 17: that was in the minutes or in the agenda of the last meeting do it should I bring that up now or

[2:59:12] Voice 17: wait till there's a there's going to be a thing on the um Blue Heron Road later on in the program

[2:59:19] Voice 17: isn't there yeah

[2:59:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): so we did already adopt the minutes but if you yeah if you want to save

[2:59:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): discussion on the blue heron road for 10.3 um

[2:59:31] Voice 17: yeah other than that um i just wondered if there's been

[2:59:35] Voice 17: any comment from the government about the abrupt shellfish situation from staff have they heard

[2:59:44] Voice 17: anything at all or well

[2:59:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): there's a letter in our agenda today which is from chair patrick

[2:59:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): back to the, sorry, I'm just looking for it. Where did that go?

[3:00:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): Oh, yeah, 12.1.

[3:00:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): No.

[3:00:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yes.

[3:00:03] Voice 17: Why did I miss that?

[3:00:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): 8.2.

[3:00:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): It's a letter from Chair Patrick to the Minister

[3:00:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): of Waterlands and Resources.

[3:00:15] Voice 17: 8.2.

[3:00:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): Renee, did you have any updates on that?

[3:00:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the Chair, this letter would be part of that update.

[3:00:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): date and i believe um i was just going to find the spot in the fuel list as well to point um

[3:00:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): uh trustee hunter too so just give me a few moments here yeah

[3:00:39] Voice 17: no worries okay yeah that's

[3:00:42] Voice 17: all i have um okay thank you

[3:00:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): so much uh uh so go to my chair's report um so the big uh the big

[3:00:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): topic of discussion right now is of course the draft budget preparation for 2026-27.

[3:01:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): There's actually a special page on the website where you can read sort of a breakdown of the

[3:01:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): budget as it is right now. This is not final. I just want to remind everybody we still have to

[3:01:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): adopt a budget by March 31st of the year. So typically that is the main item of business

[3:01:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): on our trust council agenda uh there's a committee of the whole on february 18th to discuss it and

[3:01:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): really hoping that all trustees attend that it is going to be an important meeting um even if

[3:01:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): you're not part of fpc this is sort of allowing a more wide-ranging discussion about um the waiting

[3:01:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): that council has given to the operational review which the cao tabled in uh was it december i think

[3:01:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): it was december this year or last year and um there is significant impacts on the proposed

[3:02:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): budget so we're you know obviously looking to reduce uh where possible um but i will note

[3:02:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): that the general so the general local tax local trust area tax increase currently sits at 13.7

[3:02:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): in the draft budget i'm sorry sorry forgive me

[3:02:30] Voice 7: and

[3:02:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): um but it's important to note that

[3:02:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): 3.7 percent actually half of that is um not discretionary 3.7 percent is for elections

[3:02:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): and base staff wage increases i'm sorry pardon me and um this was subsequent to the bcgu

[3:02:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): collective agreement settlement um we were uncertain where those numbers were going to sit

[3:02:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): um and then of course elections have gone up the the cost for municipal elections have increased

[3:03:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): by about 50 percent when compared to previous elections in 2025 2022 rather so there is a a big

[3:03:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): lift and um and part of that is also lost revenue stream 7.1 percent it's approximately half the

[3:03:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): proposed tax increase so even if trust council's operations were to remain the same base level

[3:03:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): we'd have to make up 7.1 percent of lost revenue so all of that is detailed on it's its own web

[3:03:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): page on that if you go to about us slash accountability slash budget and it has a

[3:03:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): a breakdown there. And if you have any questions, please do reach out. Executive Committee is

[3:03:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): meeting tomorrow. And I would say the only item of note is not the only item, but something to

[3:04:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): note is that we are considering briefing to go to Trust Council. Actually, I think it's a request

[3:04:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): Request for Decision about the allocation of First Nations engagement grant.

[3:04:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): So this was originally an unrestricted grant by the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs starting in 2023.

[3:04:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): And so there's a sort of how it's been allocated so far.

[3:04:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): and executive committee will be seeking trust council's um support or direction with the current

[3:04:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): and the remaining funds of that 150 000 for first nation engagement and

[3:04:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): yeah so executive committee meets tomorrow we've got usual operational um items to discuss

[3:04:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): there is a revision of a current policy on secretariat services that's actually going

[3:05:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): to be forwarded to trust council to update the current policy um yeah so that's it for my chair

[3:05:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): report budget work is very very very tough work and i just want to recognize um yes the cost well

[3:05:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): While the costs of everything have gone up, there are some fairly substantial operational

[3:05:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): increases that are being contemplated for this next budget, mostly because of that operational

[3:05:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): review that Islands Trust is simply not in a position to do a lot of the work that we're

[3:05:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): tasked with doing without some investment.

[3:05:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): So it's a tough year.

[3:05:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): Bowen is going is feeling it acutely their budget increase is quite high so

[3:05:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): that's all for my report trustee Luckum do you have a report for the community

[3:06:06] Trustee Luckham: no I haven't been engaged in any activities outside of receiving lots of

[3:06:14] Trustee Luckham: emails recently and of course a general interest in the trust certainly the tax

[3:06:20] Trustee Luckham: tax. Very good, Toby, for the detail there. And indeed, it is singularly the hardest thing that

[3:06:27] Trustee Luckham: we have to do as elected, having sat in that role for a number of years. I am curious because I

[3:06:33] Trustee Luckham: don't know what the Couch and Valley Regional District tax increase is this year, just for

[3:06:41] Trustee Luckham: comparative analysis. But I got to admit, I bought a burger at a roadside food truck the other day,

[3:06:49] Trustee Luckham: and we're just talking about a single burger with cheese on it and it was 20 bucks so everything is

[3:06:55] Trustee Luckham: getting expensive and so um i don't know what to uh do about that admittedly i'm generous with

[3:07:03] Trustee Luckham: chips but that's because the food truck operators deserve it but the net result was 20 bucks for a

[3:07:10] Trustee Luckham: burger from a food truck it's um interesting concepts thank you yes

[3:07:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): thank you for that

[3:07:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): that ongoing discussion indeed.

[3:07:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): I will note that actually Trust Council

[3:07:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): has already removed $550,000 of proposed funding.

[3:07:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): So early in the budget cycle, there were proposals for,

[3:07:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): you know, we were talking earlier about,

[3:07:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): well, what is the data and mapping sort of info

[3:07:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): that we need to make land use planning decisions?

[3:07:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): There was gonna be a very large project

[3:07:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): starting this year to scope out um assessment of ecosystem health and community resiliency

[3:07:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): some of you might remember the uh state of the islands uh sort of reports i think those are 2014

[3:08:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): kind of indicating how much uh forest cover and um the health of uh ecosystems and the built

[3:08:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): environment for each island and this was sort of a an update based on mapping and so we're not

[3:08:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): going to be able to start that this year it would have been a at least 150 000 so trust council is

[3:08:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): already trimming and cutting what we cannot do and not starting new projects which was one of

[3:08:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): the recommendations of the operational review so ongoing work okay so let's go to follow-up action

[3:08:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): list we've got on page 19 there were some questions about the enforcement issue on

[3:08:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): related to the aquaculture lease and maybe staff could provide an update on that sure through the

[3:09:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): chair so on page 19 of the agenda is where the follow-up action list starts so to trustee

[3:09:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): hunter's question about uh the follow-up to that to his question on the abrupt shellfish

[3:09:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): there's a note in two places on the fall action list one being on page 19 the other one being on

[3:09:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): page 21 where it um the ec received uh the local trust committee's resolution request

[3:09:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): and took conversation back to the ministries during ubcm was able to have a conversation

[3:09:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): with the Minister of Environment, and a follow-up letter was sent by the Executive Council Chair

[3:09:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): in December. So that broader topic was discussed and would be addressed. The discussion was

[3:09:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): to address concerns heard about the way license of occupations, how they're considered through

[3:09:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): new agreements, new license of occupation agreements. And that's something that between

[3:10:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): the Ministry and Islands Trust for new agreements were able to provide that

[3:10:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): feedback. So there's no further action required from the LTC on that regard,

[3:10:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): just confirming that for these two follow-up action items, I'll scroll to, so

[3:10:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): that was from July of 2024 and April of 2025 this year, with those two actions as

[3:10:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): well as the letter that's attached in 8.2 of the agenda which is on page 24. um through the chair

[3:10:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): if trustee hunter has any follow-up questions happy to answer no

[3:10:50] Voice 17: that's great thank you yeah i

[3:10:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): continue to be disappointed with the outcome of that but that is one of the difficulties of

[3:10:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): inter-jurisdictional responsibilities one body has one jurisdiction and regulating one activity

[3:11:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): and we have jurisdiction and they have they're in apparent collision right now

[3:11:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): um okay any more questions on the follow-up action list if not we can go to that um so a letter was

[3:11:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): sent from chair patrick to minister neil that appears on page 24 of our agenda and that's just

[3:11:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): just responding to the ministries,

[3:11:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): thanking the ministry for their openness

[3:11:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): to consider engaging with our staff

[3:11:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): on the project of renewing the license of occupation

[3:11:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): and agreements.

[3:11:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): And I think it's quite outdated, Crownland agreements.

[3:11:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): There's a range of them

[3:11:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): and this would be a significant project.

[3:11:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): But thanks staff for that information.

[3:12:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): information any other questions or comments on that letter okay

[3:12:10] Voice 18: seeing okay

[3:12:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): we have no delegations

[3:12:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): uh so we'll move into our section 10 applications and referrals at 10.1 on page 25 we have a

[3:12:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): referral for response the galliano island local trust committee on bylaw 292 and 293

[3:12:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): how we respond our interests are unaffected so

[3:12:37] Trustee Luckham: i would move that the theaters on local trust

[3:12:40] Trustee Luckham: committee advise galeano and local trust committee that uh are we are unaffected by bylaws numbers

[3:12:47] Trustee Luckham: 292 and 293

[3:12:49] Voice 17: second thank

[3:12:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): you so much moved and seconded any discussion all those in favor raise

[3:12:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): your hand or say aye aye thank

[3:12:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): you so much okay so now a little bit more of a substantial piece

[3:13:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): piece of business that is our referral response on bylaw 183 proposed bylaw rather 183 cited as

[3:13:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): islands trust policy statement bylaw 2025 so we've heard some some from the community um

[3:13:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): recognizing the consultation process was not adequate for this community um just entertaining

[3:13:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): any general discussion on the bylaw what uh i'd like to go first well

[3:13:40] Voice 17: i'm not sure why we're

[3:13:43] Voice 17: doing this before it's even a bylaw like what is it going to be in the end why are we recommending

[3:13:53] Voice 17: this so

[3:13:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): each agent so so trust council referred the proposed bylaw to local trust committees

[3:14:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): committees and so for instance at the gabriel local trust committee we recommended

[3:14:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): proceeding with the bylaw subject to conditions and so we're really wanting to hear i think

[3:14:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): council really wants to hear from the taking the lens of your local trust committee in the

[3:14:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): interest of your community and knowing your ocp the way that you do do you want to recommend

[3:14:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): recommend the bylaw proceed uh for specific reasons do we want to recommend that it is

[3:14:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): subject to conditions you want to add change amend or recommend not proceeding with the bylaw

[3:14:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): or we could also say our interests are unaffected by the bylaw um so it is a specific agency

[3:14:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): referral um and although the closing date was yesterday um this this ltc and south pender on

[3:14:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): Friday um need to give a response so we need to give some kind of response and that's on page 36

[3:15:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): we've got some options could

[3:15:13] Trustee Luckham: I see those options on the screen is that possible I'm a little bit

[3:15:16] Trustee Luckham: restricted with my access but um I'm

[3:15:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): happy to share chair if you would like please do

[3:15:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): Whoops, pardon me.

[3:15:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): Please let me know if you can see the screen.

[3:15:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): I can see it.

[3:15:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): If you can scroll up a little bit.

[3:15:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah, under next steps, there are four options here.

[3:15:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah, I'm seeing a Word document, not the agenda, which is fine.

[3:15:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): But we're just missing item like one.

[3:16:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay.

[3:16:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): Pardon me.

[3:16:05] Voice 7: oh

[3:16:13] Trustee Luckham: while we're getting that ready um chair what were the conditions that galeano uh

[3:16:19] Trustee Luckham: sorry gabriela offered on this yeah

[3:16:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): um we had a bit quite a bit of discussion

[3:16:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): with our community what i'm just bringing up my document um i had read through all the letters

[3:16:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): from our constituents and community members um there was quite a strong response from our land

[3:16:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): trust gabriella land and trails trust that they felt the forest stewardship policies

[3:16:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): um were weaker and they wanted to see um advocacy so former stewardship language should be

[3:17:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): strengthened there was some language about designation of forest ecosystem reserves where

[3:17:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): where no extraction would take place, that is, I think, in the current policy, but that

[3:17:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): phrase, no extraction, was highlighted as being missing. And a lack of policies or guiding

[3:17:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): principles about climate change mitigation and adaptation. And that does seem to be something

[3:17:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): that I've heard from general in general that a new guiding principle related to climate change

[3:17:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): adaptation mitigation be added we also suggested a new guiding principle related to protecting

[3:17:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): a minimum of 30 percent of the land and waters in the planning area of each local trust area

[3:17:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): that's sort of in line with the 30 by 30 commitments that I think Canada has made as

[3:17:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): at the federal level consider and this is a bit of a debate but the section that was lost the

[3:18:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): commitments of trust council or it is trust council's policy of that that list long-standing

[3:18:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): trust council advocacy positions so things over which a local trust committee doesn't have

[3:18:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): have authority such as no fixed bridge no fixed links between vancouver island that it felt was

[3:18:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): missing like a no bridge policy the elimination of clear-cut logging of old growth forest opposition

[3:18:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): to large freighter anchorages in the salish sea so so some of those broader trust council

[3:18:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): policies or commitments were um which we can only advocate for it's not in the power of a local

[3:18:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): trust committee to regulate transportation for instance so um the gabriel local trust committee

[3:18:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): asked if that could be considered uh renee at rpm demerit if you wanna through the chair um

[3:19:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): just wanted to let you know that lisa is able to share her screen so you can see the um the

[3:19:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): options for next steps for consideration thank you thank you yeah yeah

[3:19:14] Trustee Luckham: that's great thanks for

[3:19:16] Trustee Luckham: for that summary. I think that's enough detail for me. And if Trustee Hunter has finished,

[3:19:25] Trustee Luckham: then maybe I'll make my remarks about advancing this or not. So I guess I'm in favor of

[3:19:37] Trustee Luckham: recommending proceeding with the bylaw. And I said earlier, certainly it does not achieve

[3:19:47] Trustee Luckham: achieve some high-level ambitions that I would like to see. I recognize that there's been a

[3:19:56] Trustee Luckham: necessity for pulling back on some things, other things I'm not so sure about, but I would like to

[3:20:06] Trustee Luckham: recommend that we proceed, given that the commitment of Council, and certainly in the

[3:20:13] Trustee Luckham: interest of all trustees is that for there some be some priority given to incremental improvements

[3:20:23] Trustee Luckham: over time that can address um my concerns and even gabriella's concerns but i believe that we simply

[3:20:33] Trustee Luckham: need to we need to get this done so that we can get on with uh the allen's trust work in 2026

[3:20:40] Trustee Luckham: having a substantially updated document.

[3:20:45] Trustee Luckham: And I am satisfied that we can get into deeper conversations

[3:20:50] Trustee Luckham: on all of the topics that are addressed

[3:20:53] Trustee Luckham: or maybe need to be removed or enhanced

[3:20:56] Trustee Luckham: over incremental changes over time.

[3:21:00] Trustee Luckham: And I understand that that is certainly a priority.

[3:21:05] Trustee Luckham: So if you'd like a motion to that effect,

[3:21:07] Trustee Luckham: I'd be happy to make it.

[3:21:09] Trustee Luckham: um

[3:21:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): sure i'd just like to hear from trustee hunter uh what direction you're thinking

[3:21:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): and then i would love to entertain a motion yeah

[3:21:20] Voice 17: okay well from what i heard today from the people

[3:21:24] Voice 17: that called in i didn't hear a lot of support generally for the document and i've read some

[3:21:34] Voice 17: Some of the responses in the 2050 file, one notably from Thetis Island, that is very negative

[3:21:44] Voice 17: and for a lot of reasons.

[3:21:48] Voice 17: So I'm hesitant to just say, yep, let's fly with it in its present form.

[3:21:54] Voice 17: As you know, I voted against first reading at the Trust Council meeting because I don't

[3:22:02] Voice 17: believe it's the right document for Cetus Island or any other island right now. So that's my

[3:22:10] Voice 17: problem. If we can recommend it with some kind of conditions that, you know, it's going to be

[3:22:19] Voice 17: obviously, we haven't even heard what the public has to say about it, or it hasn't been collated

[3:22:26] Voice 17: and brought back to council.

[3:22:29] Voice 17: So I don't know how we're proceeding with something

[3:22:33] Voice 17: that we don't know what we're proceeding with.

[3:22:35] Voice 17: That's my comment.

[3:22:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that.

[3:22:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): RPM, Gemma, do you have any advice?

[3:22:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair, there is an option under option three.

[3:22:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): If the LTC wishes to recommend proceeding with the bylaw subject to conditions,

[3:22:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): that could be something for the LTC's discussion

[3:22:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): to list some recommendations with that resolution if you wish to go in that direction the other

[3:23:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): options are to proceed recommending the bylaw for specific reasons interest unaffected or recommend

[3:23:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): not proceeding with the bylaw so if you have subject to condition feedback or recommendations

[3:23:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): you'd like to make that perhaps could be the resolution you'd like to consider so do either

[3:23:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): of you have any conditions to suggest let's start there because one of one of one of our trustees is

[3:23:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): you know wants to proceed the other uh not in support so i'm kind of seeing a middle road might

[3:23:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): be proceeding subject to conditions but um not sure we've had time to look at exactly what those

[3:23:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): would be is it an implementation plan yes trustee luckham um

[3:23:55] Trustee Luckham: thank you and just lower my hand there

[3:23:57] Trustee Luckham: thank you uh chair um i am prepared to make a motion to proceed subject to a condition and

[3:24:07] Trustee Luckham: and that condition being that council commit to a list of incremental changes um upon adoption

[3:24:19] Trustee Luckham: option of the current uh version so

[3:24:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): just before that seconded a list of incremental changes

[3:24:29] Trustee Luckham: um council commit to a list of incremental changes of the policy statement uh going forward

[3:24:38] Trustee Luckham: i guess is probably not that's one of those phrases that people don't like to use post option

[3:24:45] Trustee Luckham: uh

[3:24:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): rpm gemarat through the chair if i can suggest some some wording there maybe for a resolution

[3:24:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): of that recommendation trust council commits to making a list of incremental improvements

[3:25:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): to the policy statement bylaw or commits to make uh commits to incremental improvements to the

[3:25:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): policy statement be made over time something to that effect i'm happy to put that in the chat as

[3:25:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): well if that captures what uh trustee look i'm gonna say it

[3:25:18] Trustee Luckham: works for me and you know i think

[3:25:20] Trustee Luckham: it can address trustee hunter it may not be specific enough but it certainly addresses that

[3:25:26] Trustee Luckham: there needs to be more work

[3:25:27] Voice 6: but

[3:25:29] Trustee Luckham: we need to move the dial that's my thing i'm

[3:25:33] Voice 17: a little puzzled

[3:25:34] Voice 17: by what you mean by incremental changes or improvements um

[3:25:41] Trustee Luckham: well whatever uh particular

[3:25:44] Trustee Luckham: item is uh not addressed or something that is addressed or addressed in the wrong way that um

[3:25:51] Trustee Luckham: there'd be ongoing conversation about addressing specific topics within the policy statement

[3:25:59] Trustee Luckham: and changing them one at a time.

[3:26:02] Voice 17: Do you mean before it's adopted or after it's adopted?

[3:26:06] Trustee Luckham: After it's adopted. I want to move the dial to where we are at now, because if, you know,

[3:26:13] Trustee Luckham: honestly, if we don't do it, it's not going to happen in the next five years. And the current

[3:26:18] Trustee Luckham: policy statement is not serving our needs okay

[3:26:25] Voice 17: i just want to be very clear yep so you're saying

[3:26:29] Voice 17: excuse me in the present draft form you're willing to vote or say you're approving it

[3:26:37] Voice 17: and willing to move forward and then at a future time in whenever your changes might take place

[3:26:47] Voice 17: to improve it yeah

[3:26:49] Trustee Luckham: well actually i want council to commit and they they you know they have that

[3:26:54] Trustee Luckham: has been talked about but i'd like to get that commitment to to undertake other changes because

[3:27:00] Trustee Luckham: lots of us think that something shouldn't be have been removed others think that other things should

[3:27:05] Trustee Luckham: be removed and but what we need to do is address those items one at a time and make the changes

[3:27:14] Trustee Luckham: changes that council sees fit but we need to get to a place where we've adopted a new policy

[3:27:22] Trustee Luckham: statement so that we've got a place to move from it's right now it's we don't adopt it it's just

[3:27:28] Trustee Luckham: way too broad to continue to it make iterations of the the entire document um

[3:27:39] Voice 17: okay um i don't

[3:27:42] Voice 17: agree with that but you know what go ahead make your motion and um we'll see who seconds it and

[3:27:49] Voice 17: we'll go from there okay thank you

[3:27:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): well if you can read out um the motion so item three there

[3:27:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): of the ltc that's the theater sign local trust committee and then there's a few suggestions

[3:28:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): in the chat i don't know if you can see them

[3:28:08] Trustee Luckham: okay i'll try and pull that chat up

[3:28:09] Trustee Luckham: so i'm going to say then that the theater sign local trust committee recommend proceeding with

[3:28:17] Trustee Luckham: the bylaw subject to trust council commits to making a list of incremental improvements to the

[3:28:27] Trustee Luckham: list of topics for incremental improvements to the policy statement and undertake that work

[3:28:38] Trustee Luckham: post adoption okay

[3:28:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): i'm just going to pause and make sure our

[3:28:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): minute maker has captured that

[3:28:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): maybe you could read it back lisa yeah

[3:28:52] Trustee Luckham: and get it up on the screen so it's clear give

[3:28:54] Voice 3: me a moment

[3:28:55] Voice 3: please thank

[3:28:57] Trustee Luckham: you probably

[3:29:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): be committing to a list of incremental improvements

[3:29:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): you added some words there trustee luckham yeah

[3:29:43] Trustee Luckham: sorry a list of topics for incremental improvement

[3:30:00] Voice 11: Adoption.

[3:30:04] Voice 17: We put the bylaw number in there.

[3:30:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you. Post adoption of bylaw policy statement bylaw

[3:30:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): 183.

[3:30:14] Voice 11: Yeah. Who said you can't make a motion by committee?

[3:30:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): Subject to committing to a list,

[3:30:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): committing to a list of topics.

[3:30:41] Trustee Luckham: It may not be a hundred percent clear, but council can

[3:30:44] Trustee Luckham: get the drift i'm sure for

[3:30:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): incremental improvement yeah sure improvement let's say that

[3:30:53] Voice 11: yeah

[3:30:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): okay so let's read it out for clarity and uh that is moved

[3:31:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): that

[3:31:03] Trustee Luckham: the thetis island local trust committee recommend proceeding with bylaw number 183

[3:31:07] Trustee Luckham: subject to trust council committing to a list of topics for incremental improvements post adoption

[3:31:15] Trustee Luckham: option thank

[3:31:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): you do i have a seconder nope okay i will second for discussion discussion on the

[3:31:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): motion well

[3:31:31] Trustee Luckham: i've already said enough but i think

[3:31:35] Voice 11: this is a way

[3:31:36] Trustee Luckham: forward with the work then investment

[3:31:39] Trustee Luckham: that we've already made in this um and that we can manage fixing some of the issues that

[3:31:49] Trustee Luckham: that everybody has, myself included,

[3:31:53] Trustee Luckham: with this version over time.

[3:31:56] Trustee Luckham: And it just, there's so much value

[3:31:59] Trustee Luckham: in some of the positive aspects of this

[3:32:02] Trustee Luckham: that we owe it to everybody

[3:32:04] Trustee Luckham: that's been involved in this project.

[3:32:06] Trustee Luckham: It was suggested it was seven or eight years.

[3:32:09] Trustee Luckham: It's actually 12 years or more

[3:32:12] Trustee Luckham: since this conversation has been on the table.

[3:32:16] Trustee Luckham: That's it for me.

[3:32:17] Trustee Luckham: uh

[3:32:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): comments on the proposed uh motion trustee hunter i'm

[3:32:25] Voice 17: going to have to vote against it

[3:32:27] Voice 17: just because of the people that are talking to me are not happy with it so um i can't i i want to

[3:32:40] Voice 17: see it some other draft form i hope it gets that way before we have to vote again or do second or

[3:32:46] Voice 17: third reading i'm waiting for that so until then i'm just i'll say no to this one regretfully

[3:32:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): thank you um i would have added an implementation plan be developed because i think that is one of

[3:33:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): the critical elements that's missing a lot of the lack of clarity and some of the language

[3:33:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): is is due to well what is the action that's going to be taken and how will that affect local trust

[3:33:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): committees and i think that's missing um but i'm satisfied with this version i've already put

[3:33:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): forward my idea of a requirement that an implementation plan be developed so we'll

[3:33:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): oh yes rpm gemara thank you through the chair i didn't want to interrupt your your

[3:33:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): conversation today ltc but just to add um there is discussion with staff on implementation

[3:33:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): implementation an implementation guiding document um so that is something that's being discussed

[3:33:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): and will likely um reach trust council through an update so that's something that um is also

[3:33:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): top of mind thank you for that trust you're

[3:34:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): welcome yeah

[3:34:05] Trustee Luckham: well um thank you for that reminding

[3:34:07] Trustee Luckham: us of the implementation plan because absolutely that conversation has been on the council table

[3:34:13] Trustee Luckham: How are we going to do this? And so I see that clearly in the how are we going to do this? Part of it is what further conversations do we need to have about specific topics that we are that feel need improvement?

[3:34:32] Trustee Luckham: improvement and so um i think that is in the in the works it's certainly on the conversation table

[3:34:39] Trustee Luckham: and i don't think it's going to go away but let's get to that place where we are in act we have an

[3:34:45] Trustee Luckham: implementation plan and we're and we're acting on it thank you thank

[3:34:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): you all right if there's no

[3:34:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): further comments i'll call for the vote all those in favor just raise your hand or say aye okay

[3:34:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay, any opposed?

[3:35:01] Voice 17: Opposed.

[3:35:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): One opposed, and that is carried.

[3:35:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for your work today on this and staff,

[3:35:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): and especially to the community members

[3:35:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): who came and spoke to us and really articulated

[3:35:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): that they need to be involved in the process.

[3:35:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): And I think we did, we hear you and we need to do better.

[3:35:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): so we will go now to um we've got 10.3 so this is PLR Z20250072 the Welsh Fenton

[3:35:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): application uh for 83 Blue Heron Road nature-based shoreline protection proposal

[3:35:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): proposal. We have a staff report on page 79. And over to you, Margo. Welcome.

[3:35:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thanks,

[3:35:55] Planner Thomaidis: Tara Elliott. Hello, everyone. I'm going to share my screen with an image for support. So

[3:36:01] Planner Thomaidis: give me a moment here. Great.

[3:36:22] Planner Thomaidis: All right. Can everybody see my screen with an image of the

[3:36:26] Planner Thomaidis: property? Yes, thank you. Great. So the purpose of this staff report is to present the Thetis

[3:36:34] Planner Thomaidis: island local trust committee with draft bylaw number 117 for review and first reading

[3:36:42] Planner Thomaidis: and to review consistency with the island's trust policy statement

[3:36:47] Planner Thomaidis: to seek a requirement for a covenant for shoreline ecosystem and cultural heritage protection

[3:36:52] Planner Thomaidis: as a condition of the of bylaw adoption and to direct referrals to agencies and nations

[3:37:00] Planner Thomaidis: and seek direction on scheduling a potential community information meeting and public hearing for the rezoning application.

[3:37:08] Planner Thomaidis: And this applies to the foreshore area and part of the upland adjacent to 83 and 84 Blue Heron Road on Thetis Island.

[3:37:20] Planner Thomaidis: So the application proposes to install a nature-based shoreline protection project up to 10 meters seaward from the tidal boundary in the Water 4 zone.

[3:37:29] Planner Thomaidis: The applicant has concurrently applied for Crown Foreshore Licence of Occupation with the province, which is under review, and they have enlisted the expertise of Indigenous elders, staff from the Stewardship Centre of British Columbia, Green Shores for Homes, a registered professional biologist, a biologist technician, coastal engineers, and others throughout the whole entire design process over the past few years.

[3:37:59] Planner Thomaidis: At the September 25th, or sorry, September 3rd LTC meeting, the last LTC regular business meeting,

[3:38:07] Planner Thomaidis: the LTC received a preliminary staff report outlining the application and requesting some

[3:38:14] Planner Thomaidis: additional information from the applicant concerning protecting ecosystems, archaeological

[3:38:19] Planner Thomaidis: sites and species at risk in this sensitive shoreline area. The LTC did not directly require

[3:38:26] Planner Thomaidis: this information prior to proceeding with the application and staff are still

[3:38:31] Planner Thomaidis: recommending or suggesting that the applicant may confirm these requested

[3:38:35] Planner Thomaidis: details prior to final adoption of the bylaws and specifically that those

[3:38:40] Planner Thomaidis: details can be used to inform section 219 covenant that is registered on

[3:38:45] Planner Thomaidis: title before a final adoption the application details have been shared

[3:38:51] Planner Thomaidis: with the Penelakit tribe and Laiaks and First Nations staff, but we have not yet confirmed a

[3:38:57] Planner Thomaidis: site visit at the time of report writing or currently. So we're recommending proceeding

[3:39:02] Planner Thomaidis: with the application and continuing to reach out to the nations for their involvement,

[3:39:07] Planner Thomaidis: discussion of concerns and cooperation throughout the process, and also continuing to invite the

[3:39:13] Planner Thomaidis: nations to a site visit at the property with staff and the owners and the agent.

[3:39:19] Planner Thomaidis: the draft bylaw appears consistent with the island's trust policy statement

[3:39:24] Planner Thomaidis: the itps directives only checklist is in attachment 2 of the staff report

[3:39:31] Planner Thomaidis: the land the draft bylaw number 117 would amend the thetis island land use bylaw number 89 by

[3:39:39] Planner Thomaidis: rezoning parts of the marine foreshore area to allow nature-based shoreline protection structures

[3:39:45] Planner Thomaidis: structures within 10 meters of the natural boundary of the sea in front of these two

[3:39:49] Planner Thomaidis: waterfront properties on Blue Heron Road. The draft by-law includes a map delineating the

[3:39:57] Planner Thomaidis: site-specific area of the current Water 4 zone where this would be allowed to be constructed.

[3:40:04] Planner Thomaidis: And then as well, the shoreline protection design, as you can see, maybe it's like a little bit

[3:40:11] Planner Thomaidis: bit small from this image I can zoom in it's partly you know about 30 meters squared of

[3:40:19] Planner Thomaidis: cobble bench structure is along the shoreline and it's landward of the tidal boundary

[3:40:25] Planner Thomaidis: and so it's in the rural residential one or R1 zone so this portion of the design although it

[3:40:32] Planner Thomaidis: doesn't actually require a bylaw amendment since accessory structures are permitted in the R1 zone

[3:40:40] Planner Thomaidis: it would require a variance of some kind to permit this cobble bench in this area.

[3:40:49] Planner Thomaidis: So instead of making the applicant apply for a separate development variance permit,

[3:40:53] Planner Thomaidis: the draft bylaw has included a map showing a really site-specific area of the upland

[3:40:59] Planner Thomaidis: in the six-meter setback where the shoreline protection structure is proposed to be constructed,

[3:41:07] Planner Thomaidis: and that would allow it in that lot line setback area.

[3:41:15] Planner Thomaidis: Staff recommend the LTC request a Section 219 covenant

[3:41:18] Planner Thomaidis: to be registered on title as part of the rezoning,

[3:41:22] Planner Thomaidis: and it would be signed by the chair, the LTC, and the owners

[3:41:25] Planner Thomaidis: prior to final bylaw adoption consideration.

[3:41:29] Planner Thomaidis: The purpose of the covenant would be to control

[3:41:32] Planner Thomaidis: the proposed shoreline development and shoreline ecosystem

[3:41:35] Planner Thomaidis: ecosystem, and for cultural heritage protection as well. The covenant will require mitigation and

[3:41:44] Planner Thomaidis: avoidance measures to protect identified species at risk, sensitive ecosystems, and cultural

[3:41:49] Planner Thomaidis: heritage during installation and maintenance of the proposed project. It may require, you know,

[3:41:55] Planner Thomaidis: attachment of an ecological overview report, the coastal processes report, which has already been

[3:42:01] Planner Thomaidis: provided site plan and monitoring recommendations and it would be registered on title just for the

[3:42:09] Planner Thomaidis: upland lots at 83 and 84 blue heron road so it wouldn't apply to the water area because that's

[3:42:17] Planner Thomaidis: crown land the preliminary staff report from september identified some specific gaps in

[3:42:26] Planner Thomaidis: information like I said that should be addressed prior to final adoption so that this information

[3:42:34] Planner Thomaidis: would help inform the draft 219 draft section 219 covenant as well and our understanding that

[3:42:43] Planner Thomaidis: the applicant the agent is continuing to work on providing the remaining information to the LTC

[3:42:50] Planner Thomaidis: see, which includes, you know, a list of specific mitigation, adaptation and avoidance measures to

[3:42:58] Planner Thomaidis: protect identified species at risk, sensitive ecosystems and archaeological sites during

[3:43:03] Planner Thomaidis: installation, as well as a site plan for construction showing all site access and

[3:43:08] Planner Thomaidis: lay down areas for the project, shoreline access points for equipment and the extent of all work

[3:43:14] Planner Thomaidis: areas. So staff have identified a number of agencies and First Nations for bylaw

[3:43:25] Planner Thomaidis: referral should the LTC proceed with first reading of bylaw 117. The LTC may

[3:43:33] Planner Thomaidis: direct staff to include other agencies or nations not listed in the staff

[3:43:37] Planner Thomaidis: report. The LTC may also choose to refer the proposal to the Advisory Planning

[3:43:44] Planner Thomaidis: planning commission because this application has not yet been referred to them uh the rationale

[3:43:50] Planner Thomaidis: staff rationale for the recommendations um on page one of the report uh are that the application is

[3:43:58] Planner Thomaidis: reasonable as proposed and is consistent with the official Community Plan and Islands Trust policy

[3:44:03] Planner Thomaidis: statement directives also additional information will continue to help inform a section 219

[3:44:09] Planner Thomaidis: Covenant for Ecosystem and Cultural Heritage Protection, and it will be received prior to

[3:44:15] Planner Thomaidis: final bylaw adoption consideration. And finally, giving first reading to the bylaw would allow for

[3:44:21] Planner Thomaidis: next steps in the process. There are some alternatives that the LTC can consider,

[3:44:27] Planner Thomaidis: like requesting additional information, or like I mentioned, sending the rezoning application to

[3:44:34] Planner Thomaidis: the Thetis Advisory Planning Commission or denying the application.

[3:44:39] Planner Thomaidis: Yeah, I guess that's all the information. If the LTC agrees with the recommendations in the report,

[3:44:47] Planner Thomaidis: staff will send referrals to local nations and agencies, continue to work with the applicant

[3:44:54] Planner Thomaidis: to assist with required additional information, and begin to draft the covenant template with

[3:45:01] Planner Thomaidis: the applicant all right thank you for your time if you have any questions please let me know

[3:45:06] Planner Thomaidis: i also want to acknowledge that the the applicant and the agent we we thought that this would be

[3:45:12] Planner Thomaidis: considered around 11 so they have been quite patient today um just acknowledging they're

[3:45:17] Planner Thomaidis: here i believe uh in the in the zoom meeting um and willing to speak to their application as well

[3:45:22] Planner Thomaidis: We have Doug Fenton and also the owner, Rob Welsh.

[3:45:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): Excellent. Thank you, Planner Tomatis, for that wonderful overview.

[3:45:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): And I'll turn to the applicant, Mr. Welsh.

[3:45:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): If you have any comments you wish to make or statements, please feel free.

[3:45:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): Also, we could promote Doug Fenton as well as the agent.

[3:45:58] Voice 8: Where's the mute?

[3:46:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): Nope. We heard you briefly there.

[3:46:11] Voice 8: hello hi

[3:46:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): hello mr fenton yeah i can hear you

[3:46:18] Voice 6: excellent report margo thanks great

[3:46:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): well it seems like things are proceeding i'm really

[3:46:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): pleased to see this back on our agenda for um for their work and direction uh trust you welcome

[3:46:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): to you yeah

[3:46:40] Voice 11: so um i'm just going to try

[3:46:42] Trustee Luckham: and pull this document up in my document view here um i am

[3:46:47] Trustee Luckham: you know it's interesting um i got to admit i was hesitant at the early stages of this

[3:46:54] Trustee Luckham: and have done a site visit there and had conversations um with the property owner and the

[3:47:02] Trustee Luckham: the consultant. And I'm pleased to see that we've overcome some of the issues identified earlier on

[3:47:12] Trustee Luckham: in the OCP and the policy statement and like, and that we're at this stage where we're advancing

[3:47:19] Trustee Luckham: this to other agencies for their input, particularly, uh, uh, the Penelope and Laiakson and

[3:47:27] Trustee Luckham: others. Um, uh, I guess, you know, normally we, I have been anyway, reluctant about, uh,

[3:47:37] Trustee Luckham: doing a shoreline, uh, you know, uh, construction and the like, uh, in order to, uh, to continue

[3:47:46] Trustee Luckham: to protect the natural environment in a natural way and natural erosion and all those sorts of

[3:47:52] Trustee Luckham: things. But I'm impressed with the work that's gone into this to design a system that looks like

[3:48:01] Trustee Luckham: it mitigates the issues that are brought about from increases in storm surge and vessel traffic,

[3:48:12] Trustee Luckham: which goes back and forth through there all the time and that those human elements that are

[3:48:18] Trustee Luckham: impacting all and I am intimately familiar with going back and forth through that the cut there

[3:48:25] Trustee Luckham: in fact I'm probably responsible for some of the erosion but nonetheless intimately familiar with

[3:48:31] Trustee Luckham: that location and I think that we should move forward with this and I'm more than happy to make

[3:48:42] Trustee Luckham: the list of recommendations that are there, and perhaps if Ken is supportive of advancing this,

[3:48:50] Trustee Luckham: we could take turns on that. So I'm in support of advancing the five items here, and as long as all

[3:48:58] Trustee Luckham: that comes to pass in a positive light, that we advance this, because I think what's important

[3:49:04] Trustee Luckham: here, it's one thing to have regulation that says you can't do this, you can't do that, etc. It's

[3:49:09] Trustee Luckham: also important to recognize that we need to find a path forward. And the province actually sort of

[3:49:16] Trustee Luckham: provided some opportunities there in the previous years, of which it's now retired or

[3:49:24] Trustee Luckham: transitioned into something else at this point. But I think that this is a potential demonstration

[3:49:30] Trustee Luckham: of an alternative way of doing something that isn't just a no, no, no, no. It's a careful

[3:49:37] Trustee Luckham: consideration of appropriate shoreline protection so that's enough for me i can talk forever you

[3:49:44] Trustee Luckham: know that yes

[3:49:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): mr welsh uh i'll go to you and then any thoughts from trustee hunter

[3:49:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): you need to unmute yourself sir where's yeah i can't hear you

[3:50:01] Voice 16: yes okay there we go right yes

[3:50:04] Voice 16: yep okay so um on the recommendations staff recommendations now there's the request for a

[3:50:13] Voice 16: covenant and i just want to say here that we have absolutely no issue and would encourage a

[3:50:21] Voice 16: conservation covenant on the property you know on the structure i'll call it

[3:50:28] Voice 16: And the only concern I have is further costs, which we are still shouldering because of the requirement as outlined by Margo there for mitigation and cultural heritage protections written into the covenant.

[3:50:48] Voice 16: and so we're so we have mr fenton is working on those documents to um you know meet that

[3:50:59] Voice 16: requirement uh at again we're spending money on this going forward still after you know several

[3:51:07] Voice 16: years of spending money on this to get through um what is essentially the government downloading

[3:51:16] Voice 16: to the individual all the expenses, you know, to proceed with the project.

[3:51:25] Voice 16: So that's still going on, and yes, the covenant, you know, would not be an issue.

[3:51:34] Voice 16: I'm concerned about the costs.

[3:51:36] Voice 16: We have already proceeded, even though we have no permit, you know,

[3:51:41] Voice 16: to to proceed with the with the actual structure but we proceeded with the native based

[3:51:48] Voice 16: planting plan that you all at least have seen the outline of the document whether you've read it or

[3:51:56] Voice 16: not i don't know but we've started with that on you know the land property that we own so this

[3:52:04] Voice 16: This past fall, it was, well, $1,100, I think, in native plants, plus the cost of labor to install it and that sort of thing.

[3:52:19] Voice 16: But that is already taking place, and that was part of the original plan, was that it was to be put in.

[3:52:29] Voice 16: And then when the structure, if it were to go ahead, there's, of course, the water-based sort of planting, and that was to be monitored for three years.

[3:52:39] Voice 16: So we already have part of it, the part that we could do now, in place, being monitored.

[3:52:45] Voice 16: entered and I'm not sure when or if we will actually be able to build it because this is

[3:52:56] Voice 16: the very first official step and there's you know several more here the provincial government

[3:53:06] Voice 16: we haven't heard a thing to my knowledge from them we had taken part in their own

[3:53:13] Voice 16: provincial government expedited permit process, which the government decided to do away with

[3:53:23] Voice 16: and focus elsewhere, not at least completing applications that were already on their desk

[3:53:34] Voice 16: under that program. So I'm pretty ticked off with that. I've written to our representative and

[3:53:40] Voice 16: and also Ms. Randine Neal did not get a response at all from their office.

[3:53:48] Voice 16: But anyhow, we're persevering, and we still would like to continue.

[3:53:56] Voice 16: And this is the first step towards our goal, I guess,

[3:54:01] Voice 16: the first concrete step toward our goal.

[3:54:05] Voice 16: And that's my goal.

[3:54:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you, Mr. Welsh.

[3:54:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): And yes, I do appreciate that this is quite an expensive undertaking and doing the right thing in an ecologically and culturally sensitive manner is, is, is tough. It is really tough.

[3:54:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): and we really are grateful that you're putting this much work and effort into

[3:54:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): such a well i am grateful personally i think it's a model and um i hope we can support you in any

[3:54:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): way that we can trustee hunter did you have any questions or comments before we move to motions

[3:54:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): i

[3:54:50] Voice 17: am totally in favor and uh i wish mr welsh all the best i'm going to move that the fetus

[3:54:55] Voice 17: on local trust committee bylaw number 117 cited as seat us on land use bylaw 2011 amendment number

[3:55:02] Voice 17: one 2025 be read a first time

[3:55:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): seconded by trustee luckham any discussion um

[3:55:13] Trustee Luckham: well yeah i just want to

[3:55:15] Trustee Luckham: acknowledge what rob just told us there and rob i applaud you for taking this um stewardship

[3:55:29] Trustee Luckham: Thank you. And I'm going to vote in favor.

[3:55:33] Voice 16: All right. Thank you.

[3:55:36] Voice 5: All right.

[3:55:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): All those in favor.

[3:55:39] Voice 16: All right.

[3:55:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): And that is carried.

[3:55:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you.

[3:55:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): Mr trustee.

[3:55:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): Do you want to read the second one or.

[3:55:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): I

[3:55:49] Trustee Luckham: would be pleased.

[3:55:51] Trustee Luckham: My move that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee has reviewed the Island's Trust Policy Statement Directives Only Checklist and determined that Bylaw No. 117 is not contrary to or at variance with the Island's Trust Policy Statement.

[3:56:05] Voice 17: Second.

[3:56:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you.

[3:56:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): Move to second.

[3:56:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): Any discussion?

[3:56:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): None.

[3:56:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): All those in favor?

[3:56:13] Voice 17: Aye.

[3:56:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): That is carried.

[3:56:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): I

[3:56:17] Voice 17: also move that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee request staff refer the proposed bylaw amendment to relevant agencies, nations, and the Advisory Planning Commission.

[3:56:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): Second.

[3:56:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): Seconded by Trustee Luckham. Any discussion? All those in favor?

[3:56:36] Voice 17: Aye.

[3:56:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): That is carried.

[3:56:39] Trustee Luckham: So, I'll move number four here, that the Theta Sound Local Trust Committee request a covenant under Section 219 of the Land Title Act from the applicant for PLRZ20250072, Walsh and Fenton, for shoreline, ecosystem, and cultural heritage protection, and designate the chair of the local trust committee to sign the covenant for the rezoning application.

[3:57:10] Trustee Luckham: prior to final adoption consideration second

[3:57:17] Voice 17: thank

[3:57:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): you moved and seconded discussion and

[3:57:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): i have a question is there any relief for the cost with the section 219 covenant

[3:57:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): um or any grants that could be applied for does anybody know for this level of

[3:57:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): protection through the chair um not uh not off the top of my head in terms of something

[3:57:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): that would be ltc driven um but there may be there may be through the province or through

[3:57:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): some other avenue but nothing that i'm aware of that the ltc could um provide perhaps

[3:58:04] Trustee Luckham: um i'll

[3:58:04] Trustee Luckham: just make a remark seeing as you've asked that question um i think there's significant benefit

[3:58:13] Trustee Luckham: to the island um to the other properties along the cut um through the enhancement of that entry

[3:58:24] Trustee Luckham: to the um narrow channel of the what's referred to as the cut that um the burden is being you

[3:58:34] Trustee Luckham: So, you know, that that positive, you know, potentially very positive outcome for the rest of that marine area is significant.

[3:58:44] Trustee Luckham: And the burden of that cost of starting that work is being carried by one individual property owner.

[3:58:51] Trustee Luckham: So if there was an opportunity for the LTC to support some kind of a community funding opportunity or grant from another agency, I would certainly like to see the LTC step up to offer their obviously non-financial support for it.

[3:59:11] Trustee Luckham: And I don't know if there's any other executive committee does cover some expenses associated with things, but I don't know whether or not that's in the policy or budget at this time.

[3:59:25] Trustee Luckham: Just recognizing that, indeed, the burden is being carried on Robert Walsh and his wife.

[3:59:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that. Yes, I agree.

[3:59:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): Planner Tumaitis?

[3:59:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): I

[3:59:41] Planner Thomaidis: was just going to add through the chair that I believe that the costs for the covenant, you know, part of it is providing all that information that will inform the requirements in the covenant that's already underway and was, you know,

[4:00:00] Planner Thomaidis: requested earlier and is kind of part of the application either way. And then the additional

[4:00:05] Planner Thomaidis: cost of the covenant is legal review. And I won't, you know, make any promises, but I do know that

[4:00:12] Planner Thomaidis: Islands Trust has draft covenant templates that we can share with the applicant. And then

[4:00:19] Planner Thomaidis: those templates have already been reviewed by Islands Trust's legal team. So the cost of final

[4:00:26] Planner Thomaidis: I know legal review may not actually be incredibly high

[4:00:31] Planner Thomaidis: because it's using a template that has already been used

[4:00:34] Planner Thomaidis: in previous Section 219 covenants.

[4:00:38] Planner Thomaidis: So if that's, you know, we don't have a number

[4:00:41] Planner Thomaidis: for how much the legal review will cost in the end,

[4:00:44] Planner Thomaidis: that'll have to be, there'll be a cost estimate

[4:00:46] Planner Thomaidis: and that will be determined.

[4:00:48] Planner Thomaidis: But just to know that it's likely not incredibly high

[4:00:52] Planner Thomaidis: and there are ways to, you know, use our templates

[4:00:55] Planner Thomaidis: to reduce that fee. Thank you.

[4:01:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that. Could we ask staff to inquire if the LTC

[4:01:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): could bear the cost of legal review on our end? I mean, I know there's typically a cost recovery

[4:01:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): agreement for the Section 219 covenants, but if you could investigate if the LTC could

[4:01:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): bear that. We haven't done very many requests for legal costs or incurred any legal costs that I

[4:01:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): know of thank you RPM Gemma through the chair that could be perhaps maybe a separate resolution

[4:01:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): because with with some direction we can follow up and I can give you some information

[4:01:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): on whether that would come from your budget and any other approval steps that would be needed

[4:01:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): thank you okay let's let's try for that but we've got a motion on the floor about designating the

[4:01:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): chair to sign a covenant are we ready to vote yep

[4:02:02] Voice 17: all

[4:02:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): those in favor raise your hand or say aye aye

[4:02:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): that is carried so one more motion there um i

[4:02:13] Voice 17: move that the fetus island local trust committee

[4:02:16] Voice 17: request staff to schedule a community information meeting and public hearing for bylaw number 117

[4:02:23] Voice 17: upon receipt of a draft covenant second

[4:02:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): thank you moved and seconded all those in favor

[4:02:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): that is carried so further resolution then trustee luckham were you thinking well yeah

[4:02:42] Trustee Luckham: wondering whether or not um rpm gemara might be able to provide us with some recommended wording

[4:02:50] Trustee Luckham: for what she thought might be a possibility

[4:02:54] Trustee Luckham: and, of course, the planner's suggestion

[4:03:03] Trustee Luckham: that we might use templates.

[4:03:05] Trustee Luckham: Is there some suggested wording that you could put in the chat

[4:03:08] Trustee Luckham: that we could use rather than stumbling around too much

[4:03:11] Trustee Luckham: with creating some direction in that respect?

[4:03:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair, yes, I can do that.

[4:03:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): I'm thinking about it now.

[4:03:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I'll put something in the chat momentarily.

[4:03:25] Trustee Luckham: Thank you.

[4:03:37] Voice 11: So that sounds, oh, Chair Elliott, that's your comment there.

[4:03:41] Voice 11: Very good.

[4:03:48] Voice 11: And does Trustee Hunter have a remark while we're?

[4:03:52] Voice 11: We'll just wait until staff.

[4:03:55] Voice 17: Yes, I did have one little thing.

[4:03:59] Voice 17: It's about the agenda from September on page 135.

[4:04:05] Voice 17: Is there any chance of getting a word changed in it for the record?

[4:04:15] Voice 17: because it says that the, after a site visit by Elder Augusta.

[4:04:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): Say again the page number?

[4:04:23] Voice 17: Yeah, 135.

[4:04:29] Voice 17: He was stating that the dredging in the early 1900s by the Hunter family

[4:04:34] Voice 17: led to a steady decrease in the health of the salt marsh, et cetera.

[4:04:38] Voice 17: Well, if you could just change from Hunter family to the federal government,

[4:04:43] Voice 17: we've probably done a lot of damage on the island,

[4:04:46] Voice 17: but we didn't actually dredge the cut so whether you're

[4:04:51] Trustee Luckham: not interested in a promotion then

[4:04:56] Voice 17: if it's possible to change it my family would be grateful if not we'll suffer thank you so

[4:05:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): you're referring to the original staff report uh september 2nd 25 yes

[4:05:12] Voice 17: well it was a september

[4:05:13] Voice 17: second meeting yes and page 135 of the agenda right

[4:05:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): okay got

[4:05:20] Voice 17: it and you'll see it right there

[4:05:22] Voice 17: middle of the page as

[4:05:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): yes uh yeah

[4:05:34] Planner Thomaidis: through the chair the um the page number is it's actually um

[4:05:38] Planner Thomaidis: part of the submission in the staff report that was prepared by uh the agent so you know we could

[4:05:46] Planner Thomaidis: you could ask it would mean them changing their submission um and yeah i'm not sure how that works

[4:05:53] Planner Thomaidis: after the fact once the staff report has been published and um yeah

[4:05:58] Voice 17: not worry then i've made

[4:06:01] Voice 17: my point so it's it's good enough thank

[4:06:04] Voice 18: you thank you

[4:06:05] Voice 17: yeah thank

[4:06:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): you we are constantly revising how

[4:06:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): we tell our histories aren't we um rpm jammer out we can move on to other items of business if you

[4:06:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): want to if you want to come back on some suggested wording through the chair yes that'd be great

[4:06:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): and then i can um put it in the chat and raise it for your attention okay we'll return to that

[4:06:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): thank you so much for considering it and let me get back to the agenda great so we are

[4:06:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): getting into our uh local trust committee project 11.1 which is an addendum and

[4:06:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): as a separate attachment it was a late whatever

[4:06:59] Voice 16: comment she's gonna bring

[4:07:02] Voice 6: yeah we

[4:07:02] Voice 16: can

[4:07:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): um we just might want to mute you mr welsh while we carry up in there

[4:07:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): and so we're going to turn to our addendum which is a separate attachment to consider

[4:07:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): 11.1 minor project targeted land use bylaw amendment and there's a staff report

[4:07:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): again planner to midas all

[4:07:30] Planner Thomaidis: right thank you chair elliott again i have a little presentation with

[4:07:33] Planner Thomaidis: some visuals. So I'll quickly share my screen. That's the one thing about electronic meetings

[4:07:42] Planner Thomaidis: is that it's a little easier to have PowerPoints than setting it up in person. But I think we

[4:07:48] Planner Thomaidis: should be working on being able to do PowerPoints at the in-person meetings as well, just as an

[4:07:53] Planner Thomaidis: aside. Can

[4:08:06] Voice 18: you all see my screen? Sorry. Sorry, I'm having some technical difficulties. Okay,

[4:08:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): we can see the charter all

[4:08:52] Planner Thomaidis: right well that might have to be this way because my notes disappear

[4:08:56] Planner Thomaidis: but you can all see this and uh and it's not too zoomed out right that's

[4:09:02] Trustee Luckham: correct we can see it

[4:09:05] Planner Thomaidis: all right great thank you for your patience so the purpose of this report is to provide the

[4:09:14] Planner Thomaidis: thetis island local trust committee with an update regarding your targeted land use bylaw

[4:09:19] Planner Thomaidis: law update minor project for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The purpose is also to share resolutions

[4:09:27] Planner Thomaidis: and recommendations from the Thetis Advisory Planning Commission and then seek direction

[4:09:34] Planner Thomaidis: to draft bylaw amendments based on this early feedback and analysis. The overall purpose of

[4:09:41] Planner Thomaidis: the project is to review rainwater catchment storage requirements for new residential development

[4:09:48] Planner Thomaidis: amendment to review fence setback requirements from the natural boundary of the sea, as well

[4:09:56] Planner Thomaidis: as updating the definition of derelict vehicle.

[4:10:00] Planner Thomaidis: And again, all of this is part of one targeted land use bylaw amendment review to align more

[4:10:07] Planner Thomaidis: closely with the official community plan objectives and policies.

[4:10:11] Planner Thomaidis: So, since the LTC last considered the project charter in June 2025, the project timeline has shifted for a number of reasons and early feedback has now been gathered from the Advisory Planning Commission.

[4:10:25] Planner Thomaidis: A revised version of the project charter with revised timeline and scope of work has been provided for LTC endorsement.

[4:10:33] Planner Thomaidis: That's up on your screen right now, the main part of it with the purpose background, deliverables, scope, engagement, all of that is there.

[4:10:43] Planner Thomaidis: The Advisory Planning Commission met on January 13th to consider a referral of the previously endorsed project charter.

[4:10:52] Planner Thomaidis: I think I have a copy of it there.

[4:10:56] Planner Thomaidis: So it's shifted slightly.

[4:10:58] Planner Thomaidis: The timelines have shifted as well since they considered it.

[4:11:04] Planner Thomaidis: And I think I'm just going to dive right into what the feedback that the APC had on each of the topics.

[4:11:10] Planner Thomaidis: So the first one, I guess.

[4:11:17] Planner Thomaidis: Oh, so the first staff recommendation for this report is that the LTC endorse the revised project charter to reflect this revised project scope and timeline.

[4:11:29] Planner Thomaidis: line. And then there's another recommendation related, you know, two recommendations related

[4:11:34] Planner Thomaidis: to rainwater catchment. So the APC indicated support regarding requiring a minimum 2,000

[4:11:42] Planner Thomaidis: gallon rainwater collection system for new residential development. The APC and other

[4:11:47] Planner Thomaidis: public comments cited additional concerns as well, such as that water storage requirements

[4:11:53] Planner Thomaidis: should be relevant to the scale and the nature of development on the property,

[4:11:59] Planner Thomaidis: that the placement of tanks should not be subject to additional regulatory requirements,

[4:12:04] Planner Thomaidis: that the costs of water storage and the need for affordable housing should be balanced with the

[4:12:10] Planner Thomaidis: value of water conservation, and also that a review of similar water storage requirements

[4:12:15] Planner Thomaidis: on other islands should be conducted. So as part of the staff report, staff provided a brief review

[4:12:22] Planner Thomaidis: of some rainwater storage requirements

[4:12:25] Planner Thomaidis: for residential developments on other islands

[4:12:29] Planner Thomaidis: and actually found that the proposed minimum

[4:12:31] Planner Thomaidis: 2,000 imperial gallon requirement

[4:12:34] Planner Thomaidis: that's proposed as part of this project

[4:12:37] Planner Thomaidis: is in fact lower than most other bylaws

[4:12:40] Planner Thomaidis: with rainwater storage requirements

[4:12:42] Planner Thomaidis: for residential development.

[4:12:46] Planner Thomaidis: Reviewing these other bylaws,

[4:12:48] Planner Thomaidis: so it's in attachment three,

[4:12:49] Planner Thomaidis: and there's a number of,

[4:12:51] Planner Thomaidis: like there's a list and a table

[4:12:52] Planner Thomaidis: showing excerpts from each of the bylaws and it led staff to determine as part of the analysis that

[4:13:00] Planner Thomaidis: most of the bylaws that have you know minimum rainwater storage requirements also exempt

[4:13:08] Planner Thomaidis: rainwater catchment storage like cisterns and tanks from lot line setbacks from floor area

[4:13:15] Planner Thomaidis: requirements and from lot coverage requirements and this is all in an effort to alleviate the

[4:13:20] Planner Thomaidis: general constraints on the size of buildings and lot coverage. So that was something interesting

[4:13:27] Planner Thomaidis: that we discovered upon further analysis. In the Thetis land use bylaws, cisterns may project

[4:13:35] Planner Thomaidis: into the setback area up to one half of the setback distance, the required setback distance

[4:13:42] Planner Thomaidis: for structures in the zone, but they are still included in floor area and lot coverage calculations

[4:13:51] Planner Thomaidis: So staff therefore recommend the LTC consider revising the scope of work for this project to include, you know, in addition to the 2000 Imperial Gallon rainwater collection requirement for new residential development, to also include amendments to the land use bylaw to actually exclude cisterns from the definitions of floor area and lot coverage so that they're not included.

[4:14:19] Planner Thomaidis: The revised project charter version 2 that's been provided reflects this proposed amendment in the scope of work as well.

[4:14:30] Planner Thomaidis: So a second project priority is requiring larger setbacks for fences from the natural boundary of the sea.

[4:14:38] Planner Thomaidis: At present, the land use bylaw allows fences to be located anywhere on a lot, including right along the natural boundary, which may impact real character and the integrity of shoreline features and intertidal processes.

[4:14:51] Planner Thomaidis: So the LTC is proposing a 7.6 meter setback requirement for fences from the natural boundary in alignment with building setback requirements from the natural boundary of the sea, the same setback.

[4:15:08] Planner Thomaidis: All other structures in the land use bylaw are generally required to be set back at least six meters from the natural boundary, depending on the zone.

[4:15:17] Planner Thomaidis: So there's no blanket structural setback requirement from the natural boundary of the sea. It only applies to buildings. The 7.6 meter setback requirement only applies to buildings and not all structures.

[4:15:33] Planner Thomaidis: So the structural setback requirement is regulated through rear lot line setbacks, depending on the zone. So that can range from six meters in most residential zones to three meters in certain commercial zones. And so it depends on the zone.

[4:15:51] Planner Thomaidis: um just for rep for your information uh the thetis advisory planning commission indicated support

[4:15:59] Planner Thomaidis: for this amendment um one apc member was opposed to you know amending um the regulations to

[4:16:09] Planner Thomaidis: so the 7.6 meter set to apply the 7.6 meter setback to fences um for a number of reasons

[4:16:17] Planner Thomaidis: reasons, including shoreline privacy concerns, animal control concerns, the erosion of private

[4:16:24] Planner Thomaidis: property owners' rights, inability to protect private gardens near the waterfront, and as

[4:16:30] Planner Thomaidis: well, confusion around existing and future non-conforming structures and the status of

[4:16:37] Planner Thomaidis: fences.

[4:16:38] Planner Thomaidis: So this proposed amendment would not prohibit property owners from building fences on their

[4:16:46] Planner Thomaidis: property but it would restrict them in the setback to the natural boundary so any existing fences

[4:16:52] Planner Thomaidis: that are within that seven point the proposed 7.6 meter setback would the local government act

[4:17:00] Planner Thomaidis: legislation concerning non-conforming use and non-conforming structures

[4:17:07] Planner Thomaidis: would apply so any existing fences would be protected through through that legislation

[4:17:13] Planner Thomaidis: should the bylaw amendment be adopted.

[4:17:18] Planner Thomaidis: Another important note for fences is that upon further analysis,

[4:17:24] Planner Thomaidis: staff recommend the LTC consider revising the scope of work for this topic

[4:17:29] Planner Thomaidis: to include additional amendments to the land use bylaw to limit fence heights,

[4:17:35] Planner Thomaidis: which is in alignment with other fence regulations across the Islands Trust.

[4:17:39] Planner Thomaidis: At present, in the Thetis Island land use bylaw, fences can be up to 12.5 meters in certain zones. It's, you know, 8 meters in some zones, 11 meters in others. It really just depends on the height restrictions in the zone.

[4:17:57] Planner Thomaidis: there's no specific height restrictions for fences and that's actually uncommon there's

[4:18:04] Planner Thomaidis: most other land use bylaws have you know two meter to 3.5 meter fence height regulations

[4:18:14] Planner Thomaidis: so at you know the the proposed change has also been added to the project charter

[4:18:20] Planner Thomaidis: in the scope of work and that it's something for the LTC to consider whether they'd like to

[4:18:25] Planner Thomaidis: revise it revise the project charter to include this additional amendment so a third priority

[4:18:36] Planner Thomaidis: for this project is amending the definition of derelict vehicles to include vehicles that have

[4:18:43] Planner Thomaidis: been unlicensed for at least two years instead of five years and are not in a garage carport or

[4:18:50] Planner Thomaidis: other building so this would allow bylaw enforcement on unlicensed or derelict vehicles

[4:18:56] Planner Thomaidis: schools sooner, reducing the amount of time they may spend potentially releasing harmful materials

[4:19:02] Planner Thomaidis: like rust, paint dust, engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, battery acid, all of those things into the

[4:19:07] Planner Thomaidis: surrounding soil, air, and water, and also affecting rural visual character. The Thetis

[4:19:16] Planner Thomaidis: APC indicated general support for this proposed amendment, but public correspondence submitted

[4:19:23] Planner Thomaidis: after the advisory planning commission meeting noted insufficient information about this topic

[4:19:30] Planner Thomaidis: and asked that islands trust find some evidence on the current number of derelict vehicles on the

[4:19:35] Planner Thomaidis: island as well as a planned path forward for enforcement so maybe relating partly to the

[4:19:42] Planner Thomaidis: topic that someone brought up at the public comments section at this meeting the thetis

[4:19:49] Planner Thomaidis: Island Land Use By-law currently prohibits the usage of land for the wrecking or storage of

[4:19:55] Planner Thomaidis: derelict vehicles in all zones. Enforcement is currently complaint-based and staff plan to work

[4:20:03] Planner Thomaidis: directly with by-law enforcement staff during development of these draft by-laws to ensure

[4:20:08] Planner Thomaidis: that they're enforceable or during development of the draft by-law to ensure that it's enforceable.

[4:20:14] Planner Thomaidis: So for LTC consideration, generally, confirm that the revised project charter version 2 accurately reflects the LTC's continued intentions for this project, including the revised scope of work, as outlined in all of the analysis in the staff report, and as attached in the revised project charter.

[4:20:36] Planner Thomaidis: The rationale for all of the staff recommendations, the three recommendations or four recommendations, is that after considering early feedback from the APC and also further analysis on the proposed targeted LUB amendments, the LTC can request staff to begin drafting actual bylaw amendments.

[4:21:00] Planner Thomaidis: amendments. The revised project charter version two is ready for endorsement by the LTC if they

[4:21:06] Planner Thomaidis: choose. Thank you. And that's my presentation. And I'm here if you have any questions. Thank you.

[4:21:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): Wonderful. Thank you, Planner Tomaitis. That's a lot to pull together and very much appreciate

[4:21:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): your work and the work of the APC considering all these different potential.

[4:21:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): We can move through the motions and discuss them at that time, or do you have any questions of a general nature, specifically about the staff report?

[4:21:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): No.

[4:21:54] Voice 11: I'm fiddling

[4:21:56] Trustee Luckham: with my buttons here.

[4:21:59] Trustee Luckham: Trustee Hunt

[4:22:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): managed to find his hand, so he's going to go first.

[4:22:02] Trustee Luckham: Good show.

[4:22:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): All right, go ahead.

[4:22:05] Voice 17: Yeah, I think you'll recall at the September meeting, I was not in favor of the water tank thing, and I'm still not in favor of it.

[4:22:15] Voice 17: You know, to make it mandatory, I mean, some people might have a place where they can have a natural pond on their property, perhaps.

[4:22:27] Voice 17: Anyway, also, I'm not in favor of the fence being set back from the sea.

[4:22:32] Voice 17: I don't see the point of it.

[4:22:35] Voice 17: I'm okay with the six meter or pardon me two meter height that seems reasonable and

[4:22:43] Voice 17: the derelict vehicles well I probably shouldn't even comment on that but

[4:22:50] Voice 17: are you is staff going to do some more work on that before we even discuss that one as it was

[4:22:57] Voice 17: proposed by the APC thank you thanks

[4:23:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): yeah through

[4:23:10] Planner Thomaidis: the chair there there was

[4:23:12] Planner Thomaidis: nothing the APC didn't propose further work or anything the APC wasn't was in

[4:23:19] Planner Thomaidis: in support of the changes to the definition of derelict vehicle so I'm

[4:23:28] Planner Thomaidis: you might be referencing that you know there was additional public

[4:23:31] Planner Thomaidis: correspondence submitted after. And that was referenced in the staff report, but that wasn't

[4:23:36] Planner Thomaidis: a formal APC recommendation. And so just to make abundantly clear, the staff report recommends

[4:23:54] Planner Thomaidis: amending, you know, drafting bylaw amendments to change the definition of derelict vehicle

[4:24:00] Planner Thomaidis: to only include two years rather than five years in the definition. So

[4:24:06] Planner Thomaidis: So it was sooner enforcement on derelict vehicles.

[4:24:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that.

[4:24:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): Trustee Hunter, did you have a clarifying for further comments?

[4:24:19] Voice 17: Yes. Well, in that case, partly because of what Ian Ralston said, I just don't see the point in moving from five years to two years.

[4:24:31] Voice 17: So I would be against that motion. Thank you.

[4:24:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you. Ken, Trustee Luckham?

[4:24:39] Trustee Luckham: Yeah. Can you hear me okay? So I'm in favor of advancing this work to draft bylaws. So then we can have a full conversation with the community amongst ourselves as the LTC to actually address the point that was raised a couple of times in the public comments today.

[4:25:10] Trustee Luckham: the unintended consequences. I'd also like to know what the intended consequences are

[4:25:16] Trustee Luckham: and what are the unattended consequences in doing nothing. Because really the reason this

[4:25:24] Trustee Luckham: is on the table, and I was probably instrumental in getting it here, is because of Lot 88.

[4:25:31] Trustee Luckham: The ramifications of abandoned vehicles by owners that no longer live on the island anymore because

[4:25:39] Trustee Luckham: because they've decided that the vehicle is no longer worthy and they give it to somebody with

[4:25:45] Trustee Luckham: inadequate paperwork to transfer the registration. It cost us probably two years

[4:25:53] Trustee Luckham: or more of enforcement on that property because we had to wait until the time period in the bylaw

[4:26:02] Trustee Luckham: presently had lapsed before we could prove that the vehicles were abandoned by their owners.

[4:26:10] Trustee Luckham: And, you know, quite honestly, that isn't the owner's problem at Lot 88 there.

[4:26:15] Trustee Luckham: He was thinking he could help people out.

[4:26:17] Trustee Luckham: But unfortunately, I think people were helping themselves out there.

[4:26:22] Trustee Luckham: And so I would say this needs a full conversation and we need to understand the rationale for it.

[4:26:31] Trustee Luckham: And indeed, the what's that phrase people use?

[4:26:35] Trustee Luckham: It's in the recipe, you know, that it's the it's the devil in the detail.

[4:26:40] Trustee Luckham: So let's get the bylaws. Let's look at the detail. And let's consider having a rational conversation about it, understanding the why-fors and where-fors. And absolutely, let's have a full conversation on this. And to do that, we need draft bylaws. I'll make a motion.

[4:27:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you. I think we can definitely entertain some motions here.

[4:27:20] Trustee Luckham: i can find the document bear with me here it is

[4:27:26] Voice 8: um

[4:27:28] Trustee Luckham: so what so i would move then that

[4:27:30] Trustee Luckham: the design local trust committee endorsed the thesis on targeted land use bylaw update revised

[4:27:35] Trustee Luckham: project charter version 2 to reflect the revised project scope and timeline am i still connected

[4:27:50] Trustee Luckham: did that happen thank you uh i

[4:27:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): will second it i do have a question about end of fiscal

[4:28:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): bylaw adoption august 2026 okay so it would be still proposed to finish this term okay i get it

[4:28:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): now yes trustee welcome no

[4:28:17] Trustee Luckham: i'm good that's the motion yep

[4:28:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): okay so moved and seconded um

[4:28:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): Any comments, questions, or discussion?

[4:28:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): All those in favor, raise your hand or say aye.

[4:28:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): Aye.

[4:28:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): Two in favor.

[4:28:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): Anybody opposed?

[4:28:37] Voice 17: Opposed.

[4:28:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): One opposed.

[4:28:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): That is carried.

[4:28:42] Trustee Luckham: So I'll move that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee

[4:28:45] Trustee Luckham: request staff to prepare draft bylaw amendment

[4:28:47] Trustee Luckham: to the Thetis Island land use bylaw

[4:28:49] Trustee Luckham: regarding their targeted land use bylaw update

[4:28:52] Trustee Luckham: minor project 2025-2026.

[4:28:56] Trustee Luckham: to address the following proposed amendments.

[4:29:00] Trustee Luckham: A, a 2,000 imperial gallon rainwater collection requirement

[4:29:04] Trustee Luckham: for new residential dwelling units and cottages.

[4:29:07] Trustee Luckham: B, rainwater collection cistern and tank exemptions

[4:29:12] Trustee Luckham: from floor area and lot coverage regulations.

[4:29:15] Trustee Luckham: C, a 7.6 meter fence setback requirement

[4:29:21] Trustee Luckham: from the natural boundary of the sea

[4:29:24] Trustee Luckham: and a two meter maximum fence height regulation and d a revised definition of derelict vehicle

[4:29:36] Trustee Luckham: thank

[4:29:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): you uh do i have a seconder i will second discussion on the motion yeah

[4:29:50] Trustee Luckham: um i don't know i

[4:29:53] Trustee Luckham: I feel a little badly advancing this,

[4:29:58] Trustee Luckham: except that I really.

[4:30:00] Trustee Luckham: think that there's value in having the conversation about the details and determining

[4:30:07] Trustee Luckham: whether or not we want to actually do this because right now it's just an idea let's see what it

[4:30:14] Trustee Luckham: looks like okay

[4:30:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): i tend to agree um i am a little bit more dubious on the derelict vehicles element

[4:30:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): element um just not knowing if it it really is a problem you know so this is sort of

[4:30:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): a question to the community is um is this a burgeoning problem that the land use bylaw

[4:30:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): needs to fix or does there need to be a different approach so um i'm happy to advance it so that we

[4:30:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): have the conversation trustee hunter any discussion no

[4:30:53] Voice 17: okay

[4:30:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): i'll call the vote all those

[4:30:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): in favor all right two in favor lower your hands any opposed i'm

[4:31:04] Voice 17: opposed and may i please get my

[4:31:06] Voice 17: vote registered as opposed yes

[4:31:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): indeed thank you

[4:31:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): we're recorded as opposed and that is carried

[4:31:15] Trustee Elliott (probable): Great. So we will look forward to seeing some draft bylaws. I guess at our next meeting,

[4:31:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): is that sort of anticipated? March 2026. I don't think we have a meeting until April.

[4:31:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): Margot, would there be an update for our next meeting, do you think?

[4:31:40] Planner Thomaidis: Yeah, that's the plan. That's in the project charter as well.

[4:31:46] Planner Thomaidis: thanks excellent

[4:31:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): work well thank you for advancing that we will see what the community thinks

[4:31:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): um okay so we if we could return to 10.3 uh there was a suggested motion from staff in the chat and

[4:32:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): if somebody could um oh thank you lisa for getting that up

[4:32:12] Trustee Luckham: lovely um lower my hand but i'm happy to

[4:32:18] Trustee Luckham: make the motion please

[4:32:20] Voice 8: do the

[4:32:21] Trustee Luckham: i move that the theater style and local trust committee request

[4:32:24] Trustee Luckham: staff to provide options for the ltc to share costs for legal review of the section 219 covenant

[4:32:31] Trustee Luckham: regarding plrz20250072 wonderful

[4:32:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): do i have a seconder second

[4:32:42] Voice 17: seconded

[4:32:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): by trustee hunter

[4:32:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): discussion on the motion. RPM Gemara. Thank you through the chair. I will also note as part of

[4:32:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): this I'll confirm through our existing trust council policies any information that provides

[4:33:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): information to clarify this because we do have some guidelines on sponsorship fees and those

[4:33:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): are for application fees versus other aspects of sponsoring development applications in that regard.

[4:33:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): and for covenant, any other types

[4:33:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): of development related costs.

[4:33:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): So that's part of what I'll provide

[4:33:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): for information on this resolution.

[4:33:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you for that.

[4:33:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah, I will note that for the next budget,

[4:33:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): that was one of the items removed

[4:33:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): with sponsorship of land use planning

[4:33:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): and NAPTEP applications.

[4:33:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): So this is for 2026, 27.

[4:33:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): If there is some budget left for land use planning applications for this current fiscal, it would be great to find that out, because that's one of the things the council is looking to cut, unfortunately.

[4:34:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay. Any more discussion? If not, call the vote. All those in favour?

[4:34:08] Voice 6: Aye.

[4:34:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): That is carried. Thank you so much.

[4:34:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you so much. Okay, so we do have some correspondence at 12.1, a letter at January 50, 2026 from the Thetis Island Residents and Ratepayers Association regarding proposed bylaw amendments. Is that to be raised for action or received for information?

[4:34:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the Chair, this is correspondence, but as it relates to any minor project information,

[4:34:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): I'll look to Planner Thaumatis to clarify what would be able to be considered as part

[4:34:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): of the work.

[4:34:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay.

[4:34:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): Well, it's on the website and it's going to, you know, it's helping inform the LTC and

[4:35:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): the community of a perspective on the proposed undue by-law.

[4:35:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): so it's on the website we can see it there right yeah

[4:35:10] Planner Thomaidis: yeah it'll be posted to the website

[4:35:11] Planner Thomaidis: for the project uh for the minor targeted leb minor project um part of public correspondence

[4:35:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): great okay let's move to our draft local trust committee annual meeting schedule i do want a

[4:35:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): little bit of discussion on this uh having heard from the community that electronic meetings are

[4:35:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): are well not desirable when we have substantial work on the agenda so looking at 93 of course we

[4:35:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): are trying to balance costs it is it does cost for staff and your chair to attend in-person

[4:35:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): meetings so I think that's why we try to do at least two in person and three electronic

[4:36:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): electronic there is a monday july 13th just different timing there but i guess we confirmed

[4:36:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): that the forbes community hall is available of course lisa has done her work yes planner or

[4:36:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): lisa millard thank

[4:36:19] Voice 3: you chair elliott um for any meetings that we want to hold in person we're

[4:36:24] Voice 3: recommending that we move them to monday because the uh the boardroom space that's available on

[4:36:31] Voice 3: on Tuesdays is not really proving to be adequate space

[4:36:35] Voice 3: for the local trust committee meeting.

[4:36:36] Voice 3: And we could move into the previous space on the Mondays,

[4:36:42] Voice 3: but it is in use all day Tuesdays.

[4:36:47] Voice 3: So that would answer why the meetings

[4:36:49] Voice 3: have been moved to Monday.

[4:36:51] Voice 3: So any meetings that you might like to have in person,

[4:36:56] Voice 3: we would ask that you potentially move them to a Monday

[4:36:58] Voice 3: so we can have adequate space.

[4:37:00] Voice 3: Thank

[4:37:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): you for that.

[4:37:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): Trustee Hunter?

[4:37:06] Voice 17: Yeah, I'm just noticing, I thought we had to have two in-person meetings per year, and it looks like one in 2026, and then the next one is in 2027.

[4:37:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): That's right.

[4:37:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah, is it a fiscal year, Lisa?

[4:37:25] Voice 3: Yes, the meeting procedure bylaws on fiscal year.

[4:37:28] Voice 17: Okay.

[4:37:29] Voice 17: Okay, Trustee Cahill, welcome.

[4:37:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): I

[4:37:33] Trustee Luckham: would be in favor of moving all of the meetings to a Monday so that we can anticipate Mondays are LTC meeting days rather than Monday this month and Tuesday next month or whatever.

[4:37:48] Trustee Luckham: So if that's possible, that would be wonderful.

[4:37:51] Trustee Luckham: And then I would like to think regarding the conversation we just had about the bylaw amendment

[4:38:04] Trustee Luckham: project, I think it would be ideal to have that meeting when we get the draft bylaws

[4:38:11] Trustee Luckham: in hand ahead of giving it second and third reading and going for public comment is to

[4:38:18] Trustee Luckham: to get a clear indication at that opportunity for first reading stage

[4:38:26] Trustee Luckham: to determine whether or not what the support is in the community

[4:38:30] Trustee Luckham: to advance it so that we can make changes or delete it

[4:38:36] Trustee Luckham: or whatever's necessary so that when we get to second and third reading

[4:38:40] Trustee Luckham: and go to public hearing, public process,

[4:38:45] Trustee Luckham: then we've already done some of the work.

[4:38:47] Trustee Luckham: So those two meetings, although obviously the public meeting may be in person anyway, I don't know, or separate from an LTC meeting, but it would be obvious to combine them together.

[4:39:00] Trustee Luckham: But if those two meetings could be in person, that would be a wonderful thing.

[4:39:09] Voice 5: Okay,

[4:39:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): hearing that.

[4:39:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): um i think there would be a challenge making all the meetings just from a quick look at the

[4:39:22] Trustee Elliott (probable): calendar on a monday just because maine is typically a conflict um you know it's possible

[4:39:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): if maine's april 27th meeting yeah i don't think that would work because i chair both those

[4:39:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): Sure, Elliot.

[4:39:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah. Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Lisa.

[4:39:46] Voice 3: There is a conflict on Monday, April 27th.

[4:39:49] Voice 3: On Monday, April 20th, there is no meeting conflicts on the calendar.

[4:40:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): So do we want to try for the 20th?

[4:40:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): Ken, are you pretty open?

[4:40:05] Voice 17: I'm good with any date.

[4:40:12] Trustee Luckham: So I have to pull up my calendar after all that yackety-yackety-yack.

[4:40:20] Trustee Luckham: I think I'm flying out of Vancouver airport on Monday, April 20th,

[4:40:26] Trustee Luckham: but it might be the following leak week.

[4:40:30] Trustee Luckham: Let me just see if I can pull that up. Bear with me.

[4:40:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah. Monday is free for me as well. So we could,

[4:40:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): we could just schedule.

[4:40:47] Trustee Luckham: Well, I don't want to create more work for everybody than is necessary.

[4:40:50] Trustee Luckham: I can just pull up my calendar here fairly quickly.

[4:40:55] Trustee Luckham: And then it might actually be the 27th, actually, that that trip is happening.

[4:41:03] Trustee Luckham: So you're

[4:41:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): saying if the community information or the reading of the bylaws happens in, yeah, draft bylaw presented for LTC is in April, that we would want that one to be in person?

[4:41:18] Trustee Elliott (probable): yeah

[4:41:19] Trustee Luckham: because you know there's no sense in getting all the way through to second and third reading

[4:41:24] Trustee Luckham: to decide well we don't want to do that we may as well decide that right at the beginning okay

[4:41:30] Trustee Luckham: um got it okay so i'm looking now at february march april um march april oh well good news um

[4:41:45] Trustee Luckham: um the 20th is a good day for me it's the 27th so that's great let's make it so okay

[4:41:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): so let's change that first meeting date to monday april 20th 2026 9 30 a.m the forbes hall community

[4:42:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): center the following one looks good and the next one tuesday it's an august meeting a month after

[4:42:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): the July meeting? Is it just because of the sequencing of elections and the writ being

[4:42:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): dropped? Thanks, Lisa. You've got some comments there. Go ahead.

[4:42:26] Voice 3: Yes, Chair Elliott. So the

[4:42:31] Voice 3: we're trying to fit in LTC meetings at the end of August. Because once we are into September,

[4:42:43] Voice 3: there's so the the last week of August and first week of September we're trying to fit in LTC

[4:42:47] Voice 3: meetings because we do have trust council the second week of September which is followed by UBCM

[4:42:54] Voice 3: and then the campaign period starts in on the 19th of September so yeah there is one meeting

[4:43:01] Voice 3: after the other and there's a bit of a challenge with that meeting because there's so many other

[4:43:07] Voice 3: other LTC meetings scheduled at the end of August and first part of September, that there is

[4:43:15] Voice 3: not ability to move that one to the Monday before in-person. We could make it in-person

[4:43:23] Voice 3: on the Tuesday, potentially in the boardroom, but not in the other space when you're muted.

[4:43:34] Voice 3: I

[4:43:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): think we could leave that August one because it does follow so quickly after. And then if we

[4:43:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): We need to change it to in-person, like you said, the boardroom on Gabriola.

[4:43:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): Is that what you're saying?

[4:43:49] Voice 3: No, the boardroom at the Forbes Center, which is the small space at the Forbes Center.

[4:43:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): Right, right, right.

[4:43:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay, so let's go with the meeting dates except for the first.

[4:44:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): And then December 1st, electronic, that'll be the first meeting of the LTC or the new LTC.

[4:44:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): We did have sort of a note that, yeah, it was the November meetings, which Thetis doesn't have one scheduled for November.

[4:44:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): So it's sort of following the tail end that that meeting is electronic.

[4:44:24] Trustee Elliott (probable): I think there was a decision that all those first LTC meetings, because there's so many, would all be electronic.

[4:44:32] Trustee Elliott (probable): So I think I'm good with that.

[4:44:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): Great.

[4:44:40] Trustee Elliott (probable): All right, so with the amendment that Tuesday, Monday, April 20th, 2026, and that one be in person at the Forbes Hall Community Center, we can accept all those other meeting dates as presented.

[4:45:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): Good?

[4:45:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah.

[4:45:06] Trustee Elliott (probable): Well, somebody want to make the motion there as amended?

[4:45:13] Voice 11: If I could see the motion, oh, yeah, if I could see the motion.

[4:45:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): Theta's Island Local Trust Committee approved.

[4:45:23] Voice 11: You go ahead, Cherry.

[4:45:25] Trustee Elliott (probable): I move that the Theta's Island Local Trust Committee approve their April 2026 to March 2027 meeting schedule as amended.

[4:45:33] Voice 11: I'll second that.

[4:45:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor?

[4:45:40] Voice 18: Aye.

[4:45:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): That is carried. Thank you.

[4:45:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): you okay one more piece of administrative business we have oh no we don't short-term

[4:45:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): vacation rental accommodation principal residence opt-in trustees is there interest in pursuing this

[4:46:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): i

[4:46:02] Voice 11: don't think ken what do you uh

[4:46:10] Voice 17: yeah no it's not a big deal to me okay

[4:46:14] Voice 11: right now

[4:46:16] Voice 17: comes

[4:46:17] Voice 11: up every year right yeah yeah

[4:46:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): yeah you suddenly have stvrs that are not a

[4:46:25] Voice 11: problem for us

[4:46:26] Voice 11: great

[4:46:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): so public notification by law page 118 um i did want to ask if the two methods

[4:46:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): fids recommended which are sort of the on the website and on social media are suitable for

[4:46:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): the thetis local could add the e-spokes newsletter if i don't know if staff have the ability to

[4:46:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): email those administrators for public notification so that's for public meetings

[4:47:09] Trustee Luckham: normally there's messaging that goes out to the subscribers list right on this stuff

[4:47:19] Trustee Luckham: because i think and ken help me out here i i think that uh e-spokes monitors that subscribers list

[4:47:28] Trustee Luckham: and by default it ends up getting added to the e-spokes on a regular basis yeah

[4:47:35] Voice 17: i'm not sure

[4:47:36] Voice 17: about that but i know i am subscribed to the island stress news and i get all that stuff on

[4:47:42] Voice 17: my phone but i don't know if it actually transfers over to east spokes yeah

[4:47:47] Trustee Luckham: it seems to me that stuff

[4:47:48] Trustee Luckham: pops up in east spokes that i had nothing to do with putting there and it and it's usually that

[4:47:53] Trustee Luckham: kind of stuff that ends up there

[4:47:54] Voice 17: okay well it's a very good thing for thetis the east books people

[4:48:01] Voice 17: to read it yeah

[4:48:02] Voice 8: yeah

[4:48:03] Voice 17: yeah

[4:48:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): a meeting which we added you could add e-spokes would that be feasible

[4:48:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): stuff rpm gemara through the chair um so in discussions with other ltcs when this item

[4:48:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): comes up on the agenda um i think some of the the pieces to confirm is checking back to make sure it

[4:48:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): meets the community charter requirements. So in just pointing us back to the report and the

[4:48:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): background information on page 118 of the agenda, there's requirements to meet. So the default

[4:48:46] Trustee Elliott (probable): publication notification, the default public notification is a publication in two editions

[4:48:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): of a newspaper once each week for two consecutive weeks unless there's another provision

[4:49:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): provided for a specific type of notice. So the newspaper is currently being used.

[4:49:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): We can confirm if e-spokes would meet that, but I would like to double check on that with our

[4:49:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): Director for Legislative Services.

[4:49:22] Trustee Luckham: Yeah, so the e-spokes is published every day.

[4:49:26] Trustee Luckham: Whether or not they have the ability to run it twice would maybe be where the dilemma would rise.

[4:49:39] Trustee Elliott (probable): So to further that through the chair, if I may, when adopting, and I'm just looking at the report, I'm happy to attempt to share this again.

[4:49:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): If you'll bear with me here.

[4:49:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay.

[4:49:58] Trustee Elliott (probable): So, but I'm not reading that two subsequent weeks is a requirement. It says on page 118 here, the default public notification is by publication in two editions of a newspaper once each week.

[4:50:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): but we're changing that this is this says unless another provision for a specific type

[4:50:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): otherwise so we're giving provision for a specific type of notice

[4:50:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): with publishing on the honest trust website publishing on honest trust social media page

[4:50:33] Trustee Elliott (probable): i would say we could also add like notification to the newsletter yep

[4:50:42] Trustee Luckham: let's do that

[4:50:43] Trustee Luckham: And

[4:50:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): if I may, through the chair, part of the LTC's consideration in giving effective or ample appropriate public notice is to consider is the source or the option that you're looking to provide, is it reliable in that the methods are dependable and trustworthy?

[4:51:01] Trustee Elliott (probable): worthy is it suitable the publication methods work for the purpose of of the public notice that it's

[4:51:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): intended for and is it accessible so is the publication methods easy to access and have

[4:51:13] Trustee Elliott (probable): a broad reach as well i

[4:51:17] Voice 11: would say it has all of those i

[4:51:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): think it sounds to me like it does

[4:51:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): so would we have to amend something in the proposed bylaw by adding three and just having

[4:51:31] Trustee Elliott (probable): having some problems screen sharing so yeah recognizing the agenda had the wrong proposed

[4:51:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): bylaw for the gambier island local trust committee so we're trying to share the um it's just the name

[4:51:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): that's

[4:51:43] Voice 11: different right just

[4:51:45] Trustee Elliott (probable): the name one eight it's still 118 thank you lisa yeah

[4:52:00] Voice 5: through the

[4:52:04] Trustee Elliott (probable): chair what lisa has on the screen there is the recommended uh resolution or motions

[4:52:09] Trustee Elliott (probable): And if you wish to add, I believe the first motion could say consider notification methods.

[4:52:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): Pardon me. I believe you'll have to, you may have to change the draft public notification bylaw.

[4:52:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): with the addition of ease so we could say that the local trust committee considers

[4:52:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): notification methods in draft bylaw 118 comma with the addition of the e-spokes newsletter

[4:52:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): comma are reliable suitable and accessible for the thetis local trust area would that work

[4:53:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): through the chair that would give enough um information and um i think for my level of

[4:53:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): of comfort to advise the ltc i would prefer to just confirm that with that direction that motion

[4:53:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): with director of legislative services just to make sure there aren't any other considerations

[4:53:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): so

[4:53:22] Trustee Luckham: could it might be difficult to be specific but could we not just

[4:53:26] Trustee Luckham: make the first make a first motion in addition to the four or five that are there already

[4:53:34] Trustee Luckham: that bylaw 118B changed to allow Thetis Island e-spokes publication being one of the

[4:53:56] Trustee Luckham: notification sources. I

[4:54:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): think what she's saying is she wants to check with Dr. Morrow.

[4:54:03] Trustee Luckham: So we could do this by RWM probably?

[4:54:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yes through the chair that would be my suggestion

[4:54:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): is we can we can confirm that and then it can be through an RWM or it could be

[4:54:20] Trustee Elliott (probable): today through a resolution to have us look into that and come back through an

[4:54:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): RWM for example yeah

[4:54:28] Trustee Luckham: administrative bylaw so we don't have to do it oh

[4:54:36] Trustee Elliott (probable): okay

[4:54:38] Trustee Elliott (probable): well let's proceed through these readings well because

[4:54:43] Trustee Luckham: I know you can't

[4:54:44] Trustee Luckham: If you're going

[4:54:45] Trustee Luckham: to modify the bylaw, you can't, because then we'd have to rescind them or something.

[4:54:50] Trustee Elliott (probable): Okay.

[4:54:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): Can we bring this back at our next meeting?

[4:54:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): And Lisa, I just want to recognize you.

[4:54:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): Your hand keeps going up.

[4:54:57] Voice 3: Certainly.

[4:55:00] Voice 3: I'm not sure if this is helpful, but Director Marler did attend the Hornby Local Trust Committee meeting, during which they considered the same notification bylaw.

[4:55:13] Voice 3: and they did make an addition to the notification bylaw for a local publication

[4:55:21] Voice 3: and they did pass a resolution that David Marler helped them to craft,

[4:55:26] Voice 3: which I could put on the screen for you if RPM feels that that would be helpful

[4:55:33] Voice 3: or, again, we can defer to the RPM suggestion that she speak to Director Marler

[4:55:41] Voice 3: regarding this specific publication.

[4:55:44] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair, I think if this will help the clarity in the discussion with the LTC, I think it's worth sharing and making sure it's appropriate for what you're looking for.

[4:55:57] Voice 3: Okay, one moment, and I'll put that up for you.

[4:56:00] Voice 7: Thanks.

[4:56:35] Trustee Luckham: Lisa, you have gotten so good at this. It's fantastic.

[4:56:55] Voice 3: In this case, they replaced an item whereby you might want to add an item.

[4:57:04] Trustee Luckham: Right.

[4:57:04] Trustee Luckham: So could I wing this and transliterate that into Thetis and bylaw 118 and by posting in e-spokes electronic news?

[4:57:20] Voice 5: Yeah, so to amend bylaw 118 by

[4:57:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): adding item 3, Thetis Island e-spokes newsletter. Yeah, that would be great.

[4:57:56] Voice 11: Yeah, I think it's e-spokes probably.

[4:58:09] Voice 11: Perfect.

[4:58:16] Trustee Luckham: And the first 118 needs to be 118.

[4:58:22] Voice 5: RPM Demaret.

[4:58:29] Trustee Elliott (probable): Pardon me, through the chair with this motion, should it be carried?

[4:58:37] Trustee Elliott (probable): I would take that to Director Marler, Director of Legislative Services, just to make sure there aren't any other wording that we could suggest, staff could suggest to be added.

[4:58:52] Trustee Elliott (probable): But this, as the motion looks, is clear to add the e-spokes newsletter.

[4:58:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): So as you consider that, I would also suggest, based on the staff report, to consider the principles of it being reliable, suitable, and accessible.

[4:59:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): So then we have that noted as well in your discussion.

[4:59:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): Right.

[4:59:18] Trustee Luckham: It's more accessible than the Lady Smith Chronicle, I can tell you that.

[4:59:24] Voice 8: uh great

[4:59:27] Trustee Luckham: you want that motion chair i

[4:59:30] Voice 8: moved

[4:59:31] Trustee Luckham: that the thetis island local trust committee

[4:59:33] Trustee Luckham: amend bylaw number 118 cited as thetis island local trust committee public notification bylaw number

[4:59:40] Trustee Luckham: 1182026 by adding item three e-spokes newsletter great

[4:59:49] Trustee Elliott (probable): moved do i have a second

[4:59:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): seconded by trustee hunter any discussion all those in favor that is carried

[5:00:00] Trustee Elliott (probable): So can we still proceed with the readings?

[5:00:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah, okay.

[5:00:07] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah, let's go through those on page 118.

[5:00:14] Trustee Elliott (probable): Oh, RPM Gemma.

[5:00:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): Through the chair, a consideration might be in the event we have to update any wording to that motion to add it to the bylaw.

[5:00:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): It may be helpful if we have the opportunity to revise anything and then give reading, perhaps it's third reading and then approval, or else we'll have to rescind approval.

[5:00:48] Trustee Elliott (probable): The resolutions, as are stated in the recommendation of the report, is to give first, second, third reading and forward it to the executive committee for approval.

[5:00:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): so perhaps it's maybe just give the first three readings with that change in mind and should

[5:01:05] Trustee Elliott (probable): anything need to be revised it could be revised with the final motion is what I'm suggesting

[5:01:12] Trustee Elliott (probable): perhaps that happens through our WM with any other revision that doesn't need discussion

[5:01:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): just gives us an opportunity to change anything if we need to without rescinding any resolutions

[5:01:27] Trustee Elliott (probable): that you've already given for today.

[5:01:31] Trustee Luckham: So you want the first motion

[5:01:33] Trustee Luckham: and then the three readings and not the final.

[5:01:38] Trustee Luckham: The first three readings,

[5:01:41] Trustee Elliott (probable): my understanding would be the first three readings

[5:01:43] Trustee Elliott (probable): are still possible before we revise.

[5:01:47] Trustee Elliott (probable): But again, yeah, I just wanna check because I'm a little,

[5:01:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): I need to confirm which readings we can actually

[5:01:54] Trustee Elliott (probable): move forward with before we have to rescind.

[5:01:57] Trustee Elliott (probable): I believe it's at least the first two.

[5:02:01] Trustee Luckham: Yeah, I think it's likely the first two. What do you want us to do today?

[5:02:08] Trustee Elliott (probable): You can make the resolution. The LTC can make the resolution with that request and give first and second readings, should there be any changes.

[5:02:19] Trustee Elliott (probable): Once I flag this with our legislative services, staff can advise if there's any amendment needed before third reading and forwarding to the EEC.

[5:02:30] Trustee Elliott (probable): see perfect

[5:02:31] Voice 11: okay

[5:02:33] Trustee Luckham: got it so i'll move that theta sound local trust committee considers that the

[5:02:39] Trustee Luckham: notification methods in amended by draft bylaw number one way eight are reliable suitable and

[5:02:48] Trustee Luckham: accessible to the theta sound local trust area excellent

[5:02:53] Trustee Elliott (probable): thank you any discussion all those in

[5:02:59] Trustee Elliott (probable): favor raise your hand or say aye aye that

[5:03:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): is carried i

[5:03:06] Voice 17: move that the fees local trust committee

[5:03:08] Voice 17: give bylaw number 118 cited as fetus local trust committee public notification bylaw number 118

[5:03:14] Voice 17: 2026 first reading second

[5:03:17] Trustee Elliott (probable): wait wait i think you had to say as amended

[5:03:23] Voice 17: 118 as amended thank

[5:03:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): you first reading now for a seconder thank you all those in favor

[5:03:33] Voice 17: all right

[5:03:33] Voice 17: all right

[5:03:34] Trustee Elliott (probable): it's carried so

[5:03:37] Trustee Luckham: i'll move the theater sound local trust committee

[5:03:40] Trustee Luckham: give bylaw number 118 as

[5:03:43] Voice 17: amended as

[5:03:44] Trustee Luckham: amended cited as the theater sound local trust committee

[5:03:47] Trustee Luckham: notification bylaw number 118 as amended 2026 uh be read a second time thank you

[5:03:59] Voice 5: seconder

[5:04:00] Voice 17: second i'll

[5:04:02] Trustee Elliott (probable): get about jesse hunter all those in favor all

[5:04:05] Voice 17: right he's carried

[5:04:09] Voice 11: all right so

[5:04:11] Trustee Elliott (probable): we'll leave the other reading and forwarding to executive committee and we'll do

[5:04:16] Trustee Luckham: that by rwm is that correct yeah it

[5:04:21] Trustee Elliott (probable): is on the agenda for tomorrow so i'm assuming we

[5:04:24] Voice 11: it won't

[5:04:25] Voice 11: get that no

[5:04:26] Trustee Elliott (probable): all right well i think we have we've done a lot of work today so unless there's any

[5:04:35] Trustee Elliott (probable): questions or comments on the active projects report trustee local expenses adopted policies

[5:04:42] Trustee Elliott (probable): and resolutions we could call for adjournment i

[5:04:46] Voice 17: do have a question about trust council does

[5:04:48] Voice 17: Does anybody know where it's going to be on March 10th?

[5:04:51] Trustee Elliott (probable): Somewhere.

[5:04:53] Voice 17: Okay.

[5:04:55] Trustee Elliott (probable): Yeah.

[5:04:56] Trustee Elliott (probable): And our next regular meeting is scheduled for April 20th,

[5:05:03] Trustee Elliott (probable): 2026 in person at the Forbes community hall.

[5:05:10] Trustee Elliott (probable): With that call for.

[5:05:12] Trustee Luckham: Boy.

[5:05:13] Trustee Luckham: Yeah.

[5:05:14] Trustee Luckham: Year's almost half over.

[5:05:15] Trustee Luckham: Oh my goodness.

[5:05:16] Trustee Elliott (probable): this. Thanks everybody for your kind attention today and sticking with us. It's a long agenda

[5:05:23] Trustee Elliott (probable): and a lot of deferred work. Thank you to the community members who came out today.

[5:05:28] Trustee Elliott (probable): Really appreciate it.

ADOPTED
 
Thetis Island DRAFT 1 of 13 
Local Trust Committee Minutes 
February 3, 2026 
Thetis Island Local Trust Committee 
Minutes of Regular Meeting 
 
Date:  
Location:  
February 3, 2026 
Electronic Meeting with a location to view the livestream at 
Islands Trust Northern Office 
700 North Road, Gabriola, BC 
 
Members Present: Tobi Elliott, Chair 
 Peter Luckham, Local Trustee 
 Ken Hunter, Local Trustee 
  
Staff Present: Renée Jamurat, Regional Planning Manager 
 Margot Thomaidis, Planner 2 
 Joe Elliott, Senior Indigenous Relations Advisor 
 Jason Youmans, Senior Policy Advisor 
 Warren Dingman, Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement Manager 
 Lisa Millard, Meeting Administrator/Recorder 
  
Others Present: There were approximately 10 members of the public in attendance. 
 
1. CALL TO ORDER 
Chair Elliott called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.  
2. TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
Chair Elliott acknowledged that the meeting was held on the territory of the Coast Salish 
First Nations and recognized the lands of the Lyackson First Nation and Penelakut Tribes. 
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 
The agenda was reordered and item 6 will be heard following item 4. 
By general consent, the agenda was adopted as amended. 
4. COMMUNITY INFORMATION MEETING - POLICY STATEMENT BYLAW 183 
4.1 Planner Presentation 
The Senior Policy Advisor provided a presentation and highlighted the following: 
• Islands Trust was created in 1974 by the Provincial Government and is made up 
of thirteen local trust areas and one island municipality and is governed by 
elected representatives who form Trust Council; 
• Trust Council must adopt an Islands Trust Policy Statement; 
• The current Trust Policy Statement has been in effect since 1993; 
• The Trust Policy Statement sets the high-level guidance under which all Local 
Trust Committees develop Official Community Plans and it forms the foundation 

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February 3, 2026 
for strategic planning, regulatory bylaws, and informs inter-governmental 
relationships; 
• The Islands Trust Policy Statement amendment project was undertaken in 
response to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, climate change, and 
housing needs; 
• The draft was given first reading in July 2025 and is in the referral process; 
• Public feedback and referral responses will be provided to Trust Council for 
consideration prior to adoption; 
• The draft Trust Policy Statement includes guiding principles, directive policies, 
and advisory policies; 
• The draft Trust Policy Statement has been referred to the Thetis Island Local 
Trust Committee and the Local Trust Committee wishes to hear public input to 
inform their referral response. 
4.2 Question & Answer Period 
The following comments and questions from members of the public were noted: 
• Three speakers spoke to the community not having had opportunity to 
participate in an in-person meeting to view the presentation and engage in 
discussion, noted the importance of community members feeling that they are 
part of the process in order to facilitate transparency, and that a meeting should 
have been organized over the six-month engagement period regardless of the 
previous meeting being cancelled due to strike action. 
o The Chair apologized that the November meeting had been cancelled 
and another one not rescheduled. 
• Is there mapping associated with item 3.4.6 Hazardous Areas? 
o The Senior Policy Advisor noted there are six Regional Districts within the 
Trust Area which have mapping data on sea level rise and wildfire 
hazards while Islands Trust receives data primarily from the provincial 
government. All of the current data mapping information will be brought 
together to inform future decisions. 
• The housing section refers to housing for local Indigenous communities – is this 
under the jurisdiction of Islands Trust? 
o The Senior Policy Advisor replied that through engagement, Indigenous 
governing bodies have expressed interest in their people being able to 
live on the islands and if an Indigenous governing body wished to 
purchase fee simple land and develop housing for First Nations peoples 
the Trust Policy Statement provides receptiveness to that concept; 
however, if the discussion is related to Reserve land it would be a federal 
matter. 
• The definition, and use, of the word colonialism is challenging as people have 
come from all over the world to bring their expertise to the lands they live on and 
have made land purchases that were allowed through a legal process. The 
statement referring to colonizers stealing land and resources from Indigenous 
peoples feels disheartening and this does not work towards reconciliation.  
o The Chair noted the term colonialism does cause discomfort, the intent 
is to recognize the ongoing impact of a structure of colonialism, and 
there is recognition that many are working toward reconciliation. 

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Trustee Luckham left the meeting at 10:25 a.m. 
 
• When Islands Trust brought the original Policy Statement to Thetis for comment 
the community did not support an overarching policy and expressed concern 
that the Policy Statement intends to require compliance of Local Trust 
Committees. Official Community Plans are expected to be in compliance with 
the policies and in some cases a policy may not fit with the community. The 
Policy Statement is not necessary and does nothing to advance the interests of 
Thetis Island residents. 
o The Senior Policy Advisor noted the requirement to have a Policy 
Statement is not optional and is directed by the Provincial Government; 
however, beyond the requirement to have a Policy Statement it then 
needs to be determined how, and to what extent, Trust Council wishes to 
direct Local Trust Committees to do certain things in its land use 
decisions versus broader visionary statements or advisory policies 
which a Local Trust Committee can take into consideration but is not 
required to undertake.  
o The Chair stated there is tension between those that want the policies to 
be more prescriptive or less. 
• It is recognized that many settlers started with nothing and put a lot of work into 
building their lives and provided a lot of energy to help build the province and the 
country but there was an overriding colonial mandate that affected lives and 
people were pushed into channels of non-participation, and the resulting 
problems can not be ignored. 
• It is hoped that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee provides a referral 
response supporting an approach which reduces the prescriptive requirements 
from Trust Council to the Local Trust Committee and put forward suggestions 
about complexity reduction through allowing Local Trust Committees more 
latitude to determine whether the policies are consistent with the Official 
Community Plan. 
• Will the Trust Policy Statement be referred to the Thetis Advisory Planning 
Commission? 
o The Senior Policy Advisor replied the required agencies in which the 
policy needs to be referred are Regional Districts; however, it was also 
referred to other government agencies, First Nations, and Local Trust 
Committees and the Local Trust Committee response would be based 
on the interests of their Local Trust Area. 
• Electronic meetings are not conducive to community feedback, many are not 
happy with the Policy Statement, the community provided feedback during the 
previous engagement regarding concerns about directive policies, the 
document is not easily understood and does not reflect island issues, and it is 
far reaching and moves into aspects that are under other governmental 
jurisdiction. It appears experts will need to be consulted to make sense of the 
policies and Development Permit Areas will be pushed into all areas of the 
environment. The scale of reconciliation is outside of jurisdictional ability and 
Islands Trust should only work with the First Nations within the Trust Area.  

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February 3, 2026 
o The Chair noted the early 2021 version of the Trust Policy Statement did 
not receive first reading and Trustees have participated in 15 meetings 
during which the language and policies were debated however, there is 
recognition it can be difficult for the public to see the connection 
between a policy, how it affects an Official Community Plan, and what 
that means as a land owner. 
o The Chair provided an explanation about the difference between guiding 
principles, advisory principles which are optional, and directive policies. 
o The Senior Policy Advisor stated there remains opportunity to 
communicate and members of the public can still submit comments 
which will be read and considered and have discussions with local 
Trustees. They indicated Trust Council will begin looking at how the 
document will be implemented if it is advanced in its current form and 
the implementation would be a multi year process. 
 
Trustee Luckham returned to the meeting at 11:12 a.m. 
4.3 Public Comments 
Comments are included in section 4.2. 
The agenda was re-ordered and item 6 was heard following item 4. 
5. REPORTS 
5.1 Trustee Reports 
Trustee Hunter thanked members of the public for their comments and letters 
regarding the Howling Wolf farmstand concerns. 
Trustee Luckham reported receiving emails from community members regarding 
the Trust Policy Statement and the farmstand bylaw complaint issue. 
5.2 Chair's Report 
Chair Elliott reported the following: 
• Draft budget discussions are ongoing with a Committee of the Whole meeting 
taking place for further discussion prior to the budget advancing to Trust Council 
in March and the current potential 13.9% budgetary increase contains non 
discretionary spending including BC General Employee Union negotiated wage 
increases, election costs which have significantly increased over previous year, 
lost revenue streams, and potential increased costs related to an Operational 
Review Report; 
• Executive Committee will be discussing the allocation of a First Nations 
engagement grant which was an unrestricted grant from the Ministry of Housing 
and Municipal Affairs and will be seeking Trust Council’s input on how to 
allocate the remaining funds. 
5.3 Electoral Area Director's Report - none 
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS 

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February 3, 2026 
• A member of the public spoke to Howling Wolf Farm and noted the property owner is 
required to prove their innocence although in the past Islands Trust has approved what 
they are doing. They suggested the community undertake an Official Community Plan 
and Land Use Bylaw review and look at every provision to ask if it is necessary in order to 
preserve and protect the environment or if it is necessary to support a sustainable 
community as the language can cause unintentional consequences such as the 
requirement that one is only allowed to have a home occupation, or any use of a 
residentially zoned lot, if they are residing on it.  They concluded if one wanted to use a 
property for agricultural purposes such as growing food, they should not be required to 
live on it and this clause should be removed from the bylaw. 
o The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager noted all Islands Trust bylaws 
require principal residence use to allow an accessory use and they are working 
with the property owner on voluntary compliance with steps being taken to try to 
establish principal use which would then allow the property owner to have 
certain accessory use. 
o The Chair noted concern has been raised in the community about bylaw 
enforcement and noted voluntary compliance is always sought as a first step. 
• A member of the public stated documentation had been brought forward that appears 
to show the farm stand is located on land that is leased and that the Agricultural Land 
Reserve / Agricultural Land Commission have approved the use. They questioned if all 
Thetis community members would be considered out of compliance and could expect 
bylaw action now that a complaint has been filed against one property owner. 
o The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager indicated the property is not 
within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and is zoned Rural Residential, the 
larger property with common ownership is within the ALR and it may be possible 
to amalgamate the properties and bring the subject property into the ALR. They 
noted there are few bylaw complaints on Thetis Island and while there is often 
concern that if one property receives a complaint that other properties with the 
same use will also receive a complaint that rarely happens. 
• A member of the public asked if any member of the Local Trust Committee had read or 
received a letter in regard to what was posted on social media regarding the Howling 
Wolf Farm issue. 
o  A Trustee confirmed receipt of a letter and the Chair noted that the Local Trust 
Committee does not adjudicate bylaw enforcement issues and while many 
comments have been received the matter is under bylaw enforcement 
regulation.  
• A member of the public stated the situation has come about due to an anonymous 
complaint, in a court of law one has the right to face their accuser, a complainant 
should have to put their name forward, and if this is not a requirement the policy should 
be changed. 
o The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager replied that anonymous 
complaints are not accepted but identifying information is kept confidential. 
They explained that when a complaint comes forward, they determine if a file is 
to be opened, if a file is opened an investigation is undertaken, and if there are 
contraventions the property owner is requested to come into compliance. If the 
investigation indicated a bylaw contravention is occurring Islands Trust 
becomes the accuser and not the complainant. 

ADOPTED
 
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February 3, 2026 
• A member of the public stated Howling Wolf offers an asset to the community as Thetis 
does not have access to amenities and they are providing a needed service. They asked 
if the property could be rezoned, the use grandfathered, or enforcement put on hold. 
o The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager stated the investigation is 
complete and the Local Trust Committee could ask for a report and can then 
make decisions based on that report. They noted the Local Trust Committee 
could also consider adopting local bylaw enforcement policies including those 
about vexatious complaints. 
• A member of the public noted the universal nature of bylaw language does not 
necessarily justify use on specific islands, and they believe Local Trust Committees are 
often led to enact generic bylaws. The speaker asked if there has been any evidence of 
serious negative impact that would be contrary to principals of Islands Trust in terms of 
preserving and protecting the environment based on this kind of usage on Thetis Island. 
o The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager noted current policies refer to 
health and safety concerns and work done near water, there is construction 
along the foreshore that is being looked at, and while there might not be negative 
impacts there are bylaw contraventions; therefore, compliance is being sought. 
They noted the system is complaint driven and there is no desire or resources to 
proactively seek out contraventions. 
o The Chair stated an in-depth bylaw compliance and review has been undertaken 
which resulted, in part, in the development of a template that directs a Local 
Trust Committee to identify priorities for enforcement and those which are not. 
• The owner of Howling Wolf Farm’s farm market and dock asked how many times does 
one have to go through a similar process as the dock was given license of occupation in 
2007 which was approved by Islands Trust, they were given permission for private 
moorage in 2019 by the Province, the dock is not new construction but a renovation that 
has taken 8 months, they received a letter in December, 2024 that a complaint was 
received and but have not seen the complaint, a letter of compliance was received in 
June, 2025 and the complaint is in contradiction to the draft Trust Policy Statement 
which points to the support of economic activities, protection of agricultural and rural 
lands, food security, access to docks, and fostering sustainable communities. They 
requested a community meeting be held to discuss the matter further. 
o The Chair noted it is not typical to discuss specific bylaw enforcement files at a 
community meeting. 
• A member of the public asked if Rural Residential (R1) zoning can have farm status and 
if placement of a dwelling on the property would require an owner of the property to live 
in the dwelling. 
o The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Manager noted if a lawful dwelling was 
placed on property the owner does not have to live in the dwelling but could 
have an employee living on the property operating the business. They stated 
farm status on a residential lot is possible provided it is obtained from BC 
Assessment, and should farm status be established the Land Use Bylaw still 
requires residential use.  
o The Regional Planning Manager suggested members of the public contact the 
northern office if they had any questions regarding land use. 
• A member of the public noted the agenda contains a report with a recommendation 
regarding unlicensed vehicles parked on properties and believes this is a result of the 

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Thetis Island DRAFT 7 of 13 
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February 3, 2026 
scrapyard property issue; however, they thought there was a difference between a 
scrapyard and parking an unlicensed vehicle on one’s property. They noted there are 
many unlicensed or uninsured vehicles on their property and this appears to be another 
subject that could see a vexatious complaint made which would be difficult for 
residents to comply with. They suggest caution regarding language used in the bylaw 
and if the Local Trust Committee is tying to regulate scrapyards this should be stated; 
however, regulation of unlicensed vehicles on one’s property should not be undertaken. 
The meeting was recessed for a break at 11:54 a.m. and reconvened at 12:30 p.m. 
7. MINUTES 
7.1 Local Trust Committee Minutes dated September 2, 2025 - for adoption 
By general consent, the Local Trust Committee meeting minutes of 
September 2, 2025 were adopted. 
7.2 Section 26 Resolutions-Without-Meeting Report dated January 27, 2026 
Received for information. 
7.3 Advisory Planning Commission Minutes dated September 30, 2020 - for 
information 
Received for information. 
7.4 Advisory Planning Commission Minutes dated January 18, 2024 - for information 
Received for information. 
8. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES 
8.1 Follow-up Action List dated January 27, 2026 
The Regional Planning Manager provided updates on the Abrupt Shellfish operation 
and noted Executive Committee discussed the matter with the Minister of 
Environment during the Union of BC Municipalities conference with a follow-up 
letter sent by the Chair of Islands Trust Council in December. 
8.2 Letter dated December 3, 2025 from L. Patrick, Chair, Islands Trust Council to 
The Honourable Randene Neill regarding UBCM 2025 Follow-Up - Joint Review 
of Crown Land Agreements with Islands Trust - for Information 
Received for information. 
9. DELEGATIONS - none 
10. APPLICATIONS AND REFERRALS 
10.1 Referral for Response: Galiano Island Local Trust Committee Bylaw 292 & 293 – 
Memorandum 
TH-2026-001 
It was MOVED and SECONDED 

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Local Trust Committee Minutes 
February 3, 2026 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee respond to the Galiano Island 
Local Trust Committee that interests are unaffected by Bylaw No. 292 & 
293. 
CARRIED 
10.2 Referral for Response: Proposed Trust Council Bylaw No. 183 Policy Statement 
– Memorandum 
Proposed Bylaw No. 183 has been referred to the Local Trust Committee for 
response. Discussion ensued and the following comments were noted: 
• Trustee Luckham is in favour of recommending with proceeding with Bylaw No. 
183 given the commitment of Trust Council that priority be given to incremental 
improvements over time that would address concerns noted. He stated there is 
need to get the Policy Statement done so that work can advance under a 
substantially updated document and allow time for deeper conversation for 
changes overtime, and adoption of the new Policy Statement will provide a 
place to move forward from as the current statement is not serving the Trust or 
Local Trust Areas. 
• Trustee Hunter noted he did not hear a lot of support from the speakers today, is 
hesitant to approve the bylaw in its present form, voted against First Reading, 
and if it could be recommended with conditions, he might consider it; however, 
he would like to see another draft form before it goes to second or third reading. 
 
TH-2026-002  
It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee recommend proceeding with 
Bylaw No. 183 subject to Trust Council committing to a list of topics for 
incremental improvements post adoption 
CARRIED 
Trustee Hunter opposed. 
10.3 PLRZ20250072 (Welsh-Fenton) - 83 Blue Heron Road Nature-Based Shoreline 
Protection Proposal - Staff Report 
The Planner summarized the staff report and highlighted the following: 
• The application proposes to install a nature-based shoreline up to 10 metres 
seaward from the title boundary in the Water 4 zone; 
• The applicant has applied for a Crown foreshore License of Occupation; 
• The applicant has enlisted the expertise of Indigenous elders, staff of the 
Stewardship Centre of BC, Green Shores for Homes, and a registered 
professional biologist, biologist technician, and coastal engineers; 
• The Local Trust Committee received a preliminary staff report in September, 
2025 which recommended additional information be provided by the applicant 
regarding the protection of species at risk, sensitive ecosystems, and protection 
of archaeological sites during installation and the Local Trust Committee had 
indicated it did not require that information before proceeding with the 
application; however, it is recommended that the applicant provide the details 
prior to final adoption to inform a Section 219 covenant; 

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• Application details have been confirmed with Penelakut Tribe and Lyackson staff 
and while a site visit has yet to be arranged, staff will continue to inform the 
Nations of the details of the application; 
• A Section 219 covenant would be registered on title as part of the rezoning. 
The applicant was in attendance and noted agreement with the conservation 
covenant, spoke to the challenges of additional costs related to additional 
information requested, and indicated they have not yet heard from the Provincial 
government regarding the Crown lease application. 
Discussion ensued and the following comments were noted: 
• Issues identified early in the application process have been overcome; 
• There has been hesitation regarding shoreline development but the work that 
has been done to design a system that looks like it mitigates issues that are 
brought about from storm surge and vessel wash is appreciated; 
• There is benefit to the Island and users of the area known as the Cut and there 
will be positive outcome for the marine area; 
• The burden of that cost is being undertaken by one property owner and if there 
were means of support there might be uptake; 
• The Planner noted the costs for the covenant include costs for reports 
previously requested outside of the covenant requirement and there will be an 
additional cost for a legal review; however, there are Section 219 covenant 
templates that can be used to reduce the legal fee. 
  
TH-2026-003 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee Bylaw No. 117, cited as “Thetis 
Island Land Use Bylaw, 2011, Amendment No. 1, 2025”, be read a first time. 
CARRIED 
 
TH-2026-004 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee has reviewed the Islands Trust 
Policy Statement Directives Only Checklist and determined that Bylaw No. 
117 is not contrary to or at variance with the Islands Trust Policy Statement. 
CARRIED 
 
TH-2026-005 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee request staff refer the 
proposed bylaw amendment to relevant agencies, Nations, and the Advisory 
Planning Commission. 
CARRIED 
 
TH-2026-006 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee request a covenant under 
Section 219 of the Land Title Act from the applicant for PLRZ20250072 
(Welsh-Fenton) for shoreline ecosystem and cultural heritage protection 

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and designate the Chair of the Local Trust Committee to sign the covenant 
for the rezoning application prior to final adoption consideration. 
CARRIED 
 
TH-2026-007 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee request staff to schedule a 
Community Information Meeting and Public Hearing for Bylaw No. 117 upon 
receipt of a draft covenant. 
CARRIED 
TH-2026-008 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee request staff to provide options 
for the Local Trust Committee to share costs for legal review of a Section 
219 covenant regarding PLRZ20250072. 
CARRIED 
The Regional Planning Manager will follow up with potential options regarding 
sponsorship of costs based on existing policies and guidelines. 
11. LOCAL TRUST COMMITTEE PROJECTS 
11.1 Minor Project: Targeted Land Use Bylaw Amendment - Staff Report - LATE ITEM 
The Planner summarized the staff report and highlighted the following: 
• The purpose of the project is to review rainwater catchment storage 
requirements for new residential developments, fence setbacks, and derelict 
vehicle regulations; 
• A revised project charter has been developed to reflect updated timelines; 
• The Advisory Planning Commission indicated support regarding the requirement 
for a non-potable rainwater collection system for new residential development 
and recommended the storage size should be relevant to the scale of 
development on the property; 
• The Advisory Planning Commission, with exception of one member, noted 
support for an amendment to fence siting and setback regulations to prohibit 
fences in the 7.6 metre setback to the natural boundary of the sea; 
• Most fence height maximums in other Local Trust Areas limit height to 2 metres; 
• The Advisory Planning Commission indicated support for amendment to the 
current definition of derelict vehicle to allow unlicensed vehicles outside on a lot 
for up to a two-year instead of the current five years. 
 
Discussion ensued and the following comments were noted: 
• Trustee Hunter is not in favour of mandatory cistern requirements, does not see 
the point of the fence being setback from the sea but agrees with the fence 
height recommendation, and does not agree with changing the derelict vehicle 
definition from 5 years to 2 years. 

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• Trustee Luckham is in favour of advancing to draft bylaws and putting them 
forward to the community to facilitate community consultation and the ability of 
the Local Trust Committee to hear community comments.  
 
TH-2026-009 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee endorse the Thetis Island 
Targeted Land Use Bylaw Update Revised Project Charter v.2 to reflect the 
revised project scope and timeline. 
CARRIED 
Trustee Hunter opposed. 
TH-2026-010 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee request staff to prepare a draft 
bylaw amendment to the Thetis Island Land Use Bylaw regarding their 
Targeted Land Use Bylaw Update Minor Project 2025-2026, to address the 
following proposed amendments: 
a)  A 2000-imperial gallon rainwater collection requirement for new 
residential dwelling units and cottages; 
b)  Rainwater collection cistern and tank exemptions from floor area 
and lot coverage regulations; 
c)  A 7.6 metre fence setback requirement from the natural boundary of 
the sea and a 2.0 metre maximum fence height regulation; and 
d)  A revised definition of ‘derelict vehicle’. 
CARRIED 
Trustee Hunter opposed. 
12. CORRESPONDENCE 
(Correspondence received concerning current applications or projects is posted to the LTC 
webpage) 
12.1 Letter dated January 15, 2026 from Thetis Island Residents & Ratepayers 
Association regarding Proposed Bylaw Amendments 
Received for information. 
13. NEW BUSINESS - none 
14. STAFF REPORTS 
14.1 Draft 2026/27 Thetis Island Local Trust Committee Annual Meeting Schedule - 
Request for Decision 
The Local Trust Committee discussed the proposed schedule and determined that 
the April, 2026 meeting be changed to Monday April 20 to be held in-person at the 
Forbes Community Centre with the remaining dates, times, and locations as per the 
proposed schedule. 
 TH-2026-011 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 

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that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee approve their April, 2026 to 
March, 2027 Meeting Schedule as amended. 
CARRIED 
14.2 Short Term Rental Accommodation - Principal Residence Opt-In – Briefing 
The Local Trust Committee is provided with an annual opportunity to opt-in to the 
provincial principal residence requirement for short-term rental accommodations 
and the Local Trust Committee determined there is no interest in opting in to the 
provincial system at this time. 
14.3 Public Notification Bylaw - Request for Decision 
The request for decision asks the Local Trust Committee to determine if they wish to 
maintain the current means of statutory notice as directed by the Local Government 
Act or adopt a Public Notification Bylaw. 
The Chair asked if the Trustees thought the two recommended methods of 
notification, including social media and the website, were suitable for Thetis Island. 
The Local Trust Committee stated that in addition to the recommended options 
their preference is to add use of the E-Spokes Newsletter which is published daily. 
The Regional Planning Manager noted it would be necessary to seek advice from the 
Director of Legislative Services and Information Technology to determine if the E-
Spokes Newsletter met notification requirements and requested that Local Trust 
Committee not give Third Reading to Bylaw No. 118 until clarification is received. 
TH-2026-012 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee amend Bylaw No. 118, cited as 
“Thetis Island Local Trust Committee Public Notification Bylaw No. 118, 
2026”, by adding item iii) “E-Spokes Newsletter”. 
CARRIED 
TH-2026-013 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee considers that the notification 
methods in amended draft Bylaw No. 118, are reliable, suitable and 
accessible for the Thetis Local Trust Area. 
CARRIED 
TH-2026-014 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 
that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee give Bylaw No. 118 as 
amended, cited as “Thetis Local Trust Committee Public Notification Bylaw 
No. 118, 2026”, First Reading. 
CARRIED 
TH-2026-015 
 It was MOVED and SECONDED 

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that the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee give Bylaw No. 118 as 
amended, cited as “Thetis Island Local Trust Committee Public Notification 
Bylaw No. 118, 2026”, Second Reading. 
CARRIED 
14.4 Trust Conservancy Report - none 
14.5 Applications Report dated January 27, 2026 
Received for information. 
14.6 Trustee and Local Expense Report dated November, 2025 
Received for information. 
14.7 Adopted Policies and Standing Resolutions 
Received for information. 
14.8 Local Trust Committee Webpage - none 
15. WORK PROGRAM 
15.1 Active Projects Report dated January 27, 2026 
Received for information. 
15.2 Future Projects Report dated January 27, 2026 
Received for information. 
16. UPCOMING MEETINGS 
16.1 Next Regular Meeting Schedule to be Decided 
Next Regular Meeting Scheduled for Monday April 20, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. in-person at 
the Forbes Community Centre, 292 North Cove Road, Thetis Island, BC. 
17. ADJOURNMENT 
By general consent, the meeting was adjourned at 2:36 p.m. 
 
 
_________________________ 
Tobi Elliott, Chair 
 
Certified Correct: 
 
_________________________ 
Lisa Millard, Meeting Administrator/Recorder