December 2 Council In Focus
Climate Action Committee marks significant progressOn this gorgeous December evening, all members of Council members were present in person, except Councillor Jaime Cunliffe who attended online. The gallery held 11 residents, attending both in person and on line.Mayor Ken Berry began the meeting by saying he had nothing to report from the closed portion of the meeting, but that Council had a plan to resume the closed session after completion of the regular meeting. After a few minor tweaks, inc
November 18 Council In Focus
Council decries online abuse: Police notifiedThe second regular meeting of Council got off to an unusual start when Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell delivered a statement on behalf of Council. The statement decried online harassment and threats made to three councillors, noted the damage done by such actions and said a report has been made to police. No further comment on the subject was made, and regular meeting routines resumed. Council members were all present in person except Mayo
Council Members Face Online Threats
Police notified about abusive posts Members of Lions Bay Council have been targeted in social media posts with language so threatening that the matter has been referred to the RCMP. In an unprecedented opening to a Lions Bay Village Council meeting, Mayor Ken Berry asked Chief Administrative Officer Ross Blackwell to read a public statement on behalf of Council. Public Statement Regarding Online Conduct and Respect in Our CommunityCouncil would like to address the community in relation to a dist
November COW(s): Budget Edition
Discussions wrap up on schedule for first time this termNovember has been a busy month for members of Village Council, with public hearings and special meetings on top of regular committee and council meetings. The ongoing budget discussions mean that councillors have met for the fourth and fifth times in November to address balancing the many needed expenditures with the limited funds available. Financial Officer Joe Chirkoff led the fourth review of the budget planning process on November 6 wi
Residents React to Proposed Bylaw Changes
Public hearing focus falls on short-term rental amendmentResidents came out in force to have their say at the public hearings into the amendments of two elements of the Village's Zoning and Development bylaw. Nearly three dozen residents were present for the hearings both online and in person, with many clearly just out to learn more of the proposed changes. In his disclaimer before each hearing, Mayor Ken Berry noted that questions would not be entertained, as the purpose of the hearing was st
November 4 Council In Focus
Committee issues arise, two Mayoral initiatives defeatedThe stormy weather of November was reflected inside at the first regular Council meeting of the month, as Council members exchanged heated words on a number of topics throughout the evening.All Council members were present, with Councillor Jaime Cunliffe attending online. The evening's agenda passed, and included a number of additional items suggested by both Mayor and councillors.The gallery topped out at 10 members, with only a single in-
Special Public Hearing Update
CAO confirms that public hearing will be accessible onlineThis evening's public hearing into bylaw amendments affecting short-term rentals and oceanfront property setbacks will be accessible online, CAO Ross Blackwell confirmed today. As reported last week, Lions Bay Council is seeking public input into two separate amendments to the Village's Zoning and Development bylaw (520, 2017). The property setback amendment is a semantic clarification applicable to terminology used when delineating ocean
October 27 Council In Focus
Agenda squabbles overshadowed by film windfallAll Council members were present in person for their final regular meeting of October, with the exception of Mayor Ken Berry who chaired the meeting while attending online. A total of 16 residents attended online and in person over the course of the evening. Approval of the evening's agenda began with an ironic twist, when Councillor Michael Broughton's report complaining that fellow councillors Neville Abbott, Jaime Cunliffe and Ron McLaughlin have
Budget Discussion Gets Down to the Dollars
Council reviews 2026 budget particularsThe community COW is getting a good workout this month. On Thursday, Council members attended the third Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting in October, and the second devoted solely to budget discussion. The evening's agenda focused almost entirely on a review of utilities costs and a look at potential capital and operating supplemental expenses. Utility Cost ProjectionsIn this current draft budget, general water rates (beginning on page 8 of the evening's
October 7 Council In Focus
Gargantuan agenda sets tone for scattered, chaotic meetingFor the second time in two months, Council members this week were faced with a gargantuan agenda — this one 461 pages long, edited down from the original 464 page version that was posted on Friday. The original agenda contained a report from Mayor Ken Berry calling out members of Council on absenteeism, which appeared to have been removed from the agenda prior to the meeting.With all Council members present in person, and a gallery that r
The Watershed