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Ladysmith Council met for a Virtual Regular Meeting of Council on September 7, 2021 with a Development Variance Permit application for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island (BGCCVI) building and the Poverty Reduction Strategy final report among the agenda highlights.
The meeting opened with Council rising and reporting on items from its closed meeting held July 6, 2021. At that meeting, Council directed staff to amend the Street Naming Policy and include “Anderson” on the approved list of street names, recognizing the history and contributions to Ladysmith made by the family.
Next, Mayor Stone proclaimed September 2021 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the Town of the Ladysmith. Each year over 1,700 children across Canada are diagnosed with Cancer. To learn more, visit: https://www.childhoodcancer.ca/
Moving along in the agenda, Council issued a Development Variance Permit to adjust the front parcel line setback from six metres to 1.2 metres and require no additional parking spaces for the building addition at the BGCCVI building at 220 High Street.
In June 2020, the Town received an $875,000 grant from the Union of BC Municipalities to create 12 infant/toddler spaces at the BGCCVI.
The Town is constructing an addition to the publicly-owned building on High Street to accommodate this service expansion. Council approval of the variance helps to create a single open exterior play area and improve site lines from inside the building.
Further in the meeting agenda, Council directed staff to prepare a one-year permissive tax exemption bylaw.
Under the Community Charter, local governments can exempt certain properties from taxation if the owner(s) meets specific conditions. These conditions include ownership, such as not for profit organizations or charitable organizations, and specific use, such as care homes and recreational organizations.
Statutory advertising will be placed in the September 30 and October 7 editions of the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
Next, Council authorized that the property owner of 902 Ludlow Road be eligible for a 10-year property tax exemption after meeting objectives contained within the Ladysmith Revitalization Tax Exemption – Economic Revitalization Bylaw.
Madill – The Office Company is constructing its new warehouse and office space at the Ludlow Road address.
The purpose of the bylaw is to incentivize commercial investments locally that encourages business attraction to Ladysmith, creates prospective employment opportunities and promotes a higher standard of urban design.
Council authorized $500 from remaining the Grant in Aid budget to fund the $25 fee charged for fingerprinting for Indigenous people who are reclaiming their traditional name.
Indigenous people wishing to reclaim their traditional names on official documentation are often required to submit fingerprints to the RCMP.
The fingerprinting fee is charged by the Town and the revenue is used to offset policing costs.
Next, Council received the Poverty Reduction Plan, containing 10 poverty themes and recommendations, for information.
The Poverty Reduction Plan was completed by Social Planning Cowichan following several months of community engagement both in Ladysmith, Stz’uminus First Nation and the surrounding area.
The document and its findings will provide the Town with important context as we complete the Official Community Plan Review.
The next Virtual Regular Meeting of Council is scheduled for September 21, 2021 at 7 pm.
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