City of Courtenay Annual Report 2021

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report 2021 CI TY OF COURTENAY

ANNUAL R E P O R T

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COURTENAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA

2021 ANNUAL REPORT January 1 - December 31, 2021

This document was prepared by the City of Courtenay’s Corporate Services and Financial Services Departments. Photos by Kim Stallknecht and the City of Courtenay unless otherwise noted .

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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About Courtenay.............................................................................................6 Message from the Mayor .............................................................................8 Mayor and Council..........................................................................................9 Message from the Chief Administrative Officer . .................................. 10 Organizational Chart................................................................................... 11 Strategic Priorities 2019 - 2022................................................................ 12 We focus on organizational and governance excellence................... 15 We proactively invest in our natural and built environment............. 26 We actively pursue vibrant economic development........................... 34 We plan and invest in methods of multi-modal transportation....... 36 We support diversity in housing and reasoned land use planning. 38 We continually invest in our key relationships. .................................... 44 Strategic priorities 2021 - 2022 Update................................................. 49 Financial Reporting...................................................................................... 53 Property Tax Exemptions........................................................................... 54 Financial Statements................................................................................... 55 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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The City of Courtenay respectfully acknowledges that we are within the unceded traditional territory of the K'ómoks First Nation. The City of Courtenay has adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as its framework for Indigenous reconciliation. UNDRIP was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission listed in 2015 as the first principle for reconciliation that the UNDRIP, “is the framework for reconciliation at all levels and across all sectors of Canadian Society." The City has also identified building on our good relations with K'ómoks First Nation and practicing reconciliation as one of Courtenay's Strategic Priorities and core values of the new Official Community Plan.

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

ABOUT COURTENAY The City of Courtenay is the largest community in the Comox Valley on the east coast of Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Comox Valley communities of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland are on the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Courtenay was incorporated in 1915. Courtenay’s lively downtown core features an assortment of shops, galleries, and restaurants — many with locally produced ingredients from a thriving agricultural community. The stunning Courtenay Riverway connects downtown Courtenay with the City’s southern boundary. This walkway borders the Courtenay Estuary, offering visitors an opportunity to view a variety of birds, fish, and native plants. World-class recreational opportunities await in Courtenay and its neighbouring communities, including golf, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing, and hiking.

COURTENAY

COURTENAY

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All data, Statistics Canada 2021

10.8 INCREASE

population 28,420

population growth, 2016 to 2021

28% VAN. ISLE 26% B.C. 20% CANADA 20%

46.8 YEARS VAN. ISLE 46.2 B.C. 43.1 CANADA 41.9

% population age 65+

average age

City land area: 32.7 square kilometres

50% VAN. ISLE 54% B.C. 42% CANADA 53%

density per square kilometre: 869 people

private dwellings 12,992

% households in single-residential dwellings

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR On behalf of Courtenay Council, I’m pleased to present the City of Courtenay’s 2021 Annual Report. This was a monumental year on so many levels, with our day-to-day lives continuing to be dramatically impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As our society gradually resumed activities thanks to a global vaccination roll-out, so too did our City programs, including cautious, incremental reopenings of Courtenay Recreation programs and City facilities, all while following evolving public health orders and guidelines. Despite the ongoing challenges from the pandemic, the City made steady progress on our Strategic Priorities, balancing the concerns of today’s residents while considering the needs of future generations. All commuters in the Comox Valley will benefit from the 5th Street Bridge Project, with construction in 2021 and early 2022. We’re so grateful to area residents and all commuters for their patience throughout this necessary and complex project which has preserved and extended the life of this key link in our community’s transportation network. Our Council continued to prioritize our relations with K’ómoks First Nation on whose unceded territory we reside. Our Council is deeply committed to strengthening our relationships with the traditional keepers of the lands that include and encompass Courtenay, as well as other Indigenous peoples living on these lands. The updated Official Community Plan (OCP) that has been in development since 2019 has embedded principles of reconciliation as a cardinal direction of the plan, along with equity, community well-being, and climate change. 2021 was a year of weather extremes, with record-breaking heat over 40 degrees in summer and major snowfall in winter. At both ends of the spectrum, temperatures and environmental conditions resulted in hardship and concerns for the health and welfare of members of the community lacking adequate and safe shelter, with particular risks for the elderly. Our Council and staff took proactive measures to offer respite from extreme temperatures, including temporary cooling centres during heat waves, and leased space for the Connect Warming Centre and Extreme Weather Shelter, all coordinated by the skilled, compassionate team at the Comox Valley Transition Society. Despite these climate-related challenges, our community was fortunate compared to many others in the province. Our hearts go out to those who were affected by catastrophic wildfires, flooding, landslides, road and highway closures in B.C. Social issues are another area of concern. Our Council has heard compelling, heartbreaking, and personal stories from families and service providers about the impacts of mental health, trauma, brain injury, addiction, and the need for more services at the local level. We are advocating at the provincial and federal level for additional support and recovery resources in the Comox Valley and North Vancouver Island region, as well as more resources for affordable housing, community outreach services, and skilled staff.

I encourage you to review this report to learn about the many activities and progress made throughout the year, with gratitude to City staff, regional governments, and organizations that have been involved. It is a privilege to serve this amazing community. Mayor Bob Wells

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MAYOR AND COUNCIL Courtenay Council was elected to a four-year term in October 2018. Each member of council represents the City at large and serves on various boards and committees. Appointments listed below were assigned by Council in November 2021.

MAYOR BOB WELLS • Chair, Comox Valley Economic Recovery Task Force (ERTF) • Alternate, Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board of Directors • Alternate, Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Alternate, Comox Valley Water Committee • Alternate, Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District (CSRHD) Board • Alternate, Comox Valley Recreation Commission • Alternate, Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) Board • Alternate, Integrated Regional Transportation Select (IRTS) Committee • Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS)

COUNCILLOR WILL COLE-HAMILTON • CVRD Board of Directors • Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Comox Valley Water Committee • CSRHD Board • Comox Valley Recreation Commission • CSWM Board

COUNCILLOR MELANIE MCCOLLUM • CVRD Board of Directors • Comox Valley Water Committee • CSRHD Board • Comox Valley Recreation Commission • CSWM Board • IRTS Committee • Alternate, Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Alternate, CVEDS • Alternate, Vancouver Island Regional Library Board

COUNCILLOR WENDY MORIN • CVRD Board of Directors

COUNCILLOR DAVID FRISCH • Alternate, CVRD Board of Directors • Alternate, Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Alternate, Comox Valley Water Committee • Alternate, CSRHD Board • Alternate, Comox Valley Recreation Commission • Alternate, CSWM Board

• Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Comox Valley Water Committee • CSRHD Board • Comox Valley Recreation Commission • CSWM Board

COUNCILLOR DOUG HILLIAN • CVRD Board of Directors

COUNCILLOR MANNO THEOS • Vancouver Island Regional Library Board • Alternate, CVRD Board of Directors • Alternate, Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Alternate, Comox Valley Water Committee • Alternate, CSRHD Board • Alternate, Comox Valley Recreation Commission • Alternate, CSWM Board

• Comox Valley Sewage Commission • Comox Valley Water Committee • CSRHD Board • Comox Valley Recreation Commission • CSWM Board

Members of the public are encouraged to view and participate in the Council meeting process. Meetings take place in the Comox Valley Regional District Civic Room, 770 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay. For more information on City Council, including meeting schedules, agendas, minutes, and video, and appearing as a delegation, go to courtenay.ca/council

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Looking back at 2021, I am inspired by the amount of progress achieved at the City thanks to the collective vision and passion for public service by our staff. This excellent work has been guided by the vision laid out in our Council’s strategic priorities. The ongoing pandemic continued to influence every aspect of our operations, adding an additional layer of complexity to work ranging from major capital improvements like the 5th Street Bridge Project, to day-to day procedures and policies. The safety our staff and the public who rely on our services was the ultimate goal. Like many other organizations, staff sometimes had to develop creative and unfamiliar solutions to maintain operations and services during these unprecedented times, while following the guidance of the Province, Island Health, and WorksafeBC. The City’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety team has done a tremendous job throughout the pandemic, remaining nimble and responsive to public health guidance. The pandemic guidelines were most impactful at our Courtenay Recreation facilities, with staff going above and beyond to rapidly interpret and implement provincial health regulations as they evolved. We also faced supply chain issues and increased costs for materials, gradually at first due to the pandemic, then more suddenly following major highway closures in the province from a highly destructive atmospheric river event in the fall. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished despite these many challenges, and of how our entire City team gelled to overcome them – strengthening our corporate culture along the way. Progress continued on the development of the new Official Community Plan, which proposes incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the City's work and decision-making processes, and is guided by its four Cardinal Directions of reconciliation, community well-being, providing equitable and inclusive services, and addressing the pressing needs and implications of ongoing climate change. In support of our ongoing organizational commitment to reconciliation and Council’s adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2020, a number of important actions have been taken at the staff and Council level. These include ongoing monthly meetings with K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) Chief and Council to discuss areas of mutual interest, including ongoing support of municipal and fire services for KFN IR2 lands across the Puntledge River, as well as the adoption and implementation of KFN’s Cultural Heritage Policy. These guidelines would provide clear direction to anyone developing lands in the City to ensure that impacts on cultural heritage are incorporated into the development process as a key step in the reconciliation process.

The City is also working on incorporating Indigenous and social procurement principles into our Purchasing Policy in consultation with the K'ómoks Economic Development Corporation (KEDC). We look forward to building on these strong relationships, and are thankful for the opportunity to build our organizational capacity through this ongoing collaboration. On behalf of staff team at the City of Courtenay, thank you for the interest in accessing this report and taking the time to learn more about the wide range of services we provide. We are so grateful to serve this community.

Geoff Garbutt, MCIP RPP Chief Administrative Officer

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ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

As of December 31, 2021

Mayor and Council

RCMP

Bylaw enforcement, communications, human resources, information technology, legislative services

Chief Administrative Officer

Corporate Services

Fire and rescue services, training, inspection, investigation, public education

Courtenay Fire Department

Planning, subdivisions, building inspection, sustainability, business licencing

Development Services

Infrastructure design, technical services, specifications and standards

Engineering Services

Finance, purchasing, financial planning, treasury, payroll & business performance

Financial Services

Asset management, transportation & fleet, utilities, parks, civic properties

Public Works Services

Recreation, Culture & Community Services

Recreation, events, cultural liaison, park planning, community services

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2019 - 2022

 Area of Influence

 Area of Control The policy, works and programming matters that fall within Council’s jurisdictional authority to act

 Area of Concern Matters of interest outside Council’s jurisdictional authority to act

Matters that fall within shared or agreed jurisdiction between Council and another government or party

We support diversity in housing & reasoned land use planning

We focus on organizational & governance excellence

We actively pursue vibrant economic development

We plan & invest in methods of multi-modal transportation

We continually invest in our key relationships

We proactively plan & invest in our natural & built environment

Support and encourage initiatives to improve efficiencies Recognize staff capacity is a finite resource and support staff training and development Communicate appropriately with our community in all decisions we make Responsibly provide services at levels which the people we serve are willing to pay Value community safety and support our protective services

Focus on asset management for sustainable service delivery Look for regional infrastructure solutions for shared services Support actions to address Climate Change mitigation & adaptation Make progress on the objectives of the BC Climate Action Charter Advocate, collaborate and act to reduce air quality contaminants Support social, economic & environmental sustainability solutions

Move forward with implementing the City's Transportation Master Plan Collaborate with regional and senior government partners to provide cost-effective transportation solutions Explore opportunities for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Complete an update of the City's OCP and Zoning Bylaws Assess how city-owned lands can support our strategic land purchases and sales Identify and support opportunities for lower cost housing and advocate for senior government support Encourage and

Build on our good relations with K’ómoks First Nation and practice Reconciliation Value and recognize the importance of our volunteers Consider effective ways to engage with and partner for the health and Advocate and cooperate with local and senior governments on regional issues affecting our community Support improving accessibility to all City services safety of the community

Engage with businesses and the public to continue revitalizing our downtown Continue to support Arts and Culture Work with the business and development sectors to efficiencies Continue to explore innovative and effective economic development opportunities mutually improve

support housing diversity

Continue to develop and revisit all infrastructure master plans

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2021 HIGHLIGHTS AND STATISTICS

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

STRATEGIC PRIORITY: WE FOCUS ON ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

Support and encourage initiatives to improve efficiencies Recognize staff capacity is a finite resource and support staff training and development Communicate appropriately with our community in all decisions we make Responsibly provide services at levels which the people we serve are willing to pay Value community safety and support our protective services

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY New employee portal A new one-stop portal is now available for City employees to easily access timesheets and internal job postings, as well as report any health and safety incidents or near misses. The portal, developed in-house, provides staff with fast, simplified access to these essential productivity tools, whether they are working at a desk or out in the field.

Internal employee "Help Desk" requests Over the past three years there has been a large increase in the demands on the Information Technology division, with a 25% jump in Help Desk tickets in 2020 via the online reporting tool. Demand continued to be high in 2021. Reported Help Desk Tickets do not include service requests made by walk-ins or over the phone. Contributing factors to this increase include the transition to a remote workforce for numerous employees due to the pandemic, along with attrition and increased awareness of the online reporting tool. NUMBER OF HELP DESK TICKETS:

FINANCIAL SERVICES Increase in "on time" property tax payments

The percentage of Courtenay property owners who have paid their property taxes by the July due date has grown, with a 2.5% increase in on-time payments over the past three years. By the end of 2021, all but 1.3% of property taxes had been collected, down from 1.6% in 2019.

email. Staff will also contact the bank on title to request payments on behalf of the owner, and run newspaper ads. With the gradual decline in telephone landlines making it increasingly challenging to reach property owners, outreach through other available communication channels may also be attempted when traditional methods have failed. Through these concerted efforts, tax sales in the City are a rare occurrence.

By the end of 2021, all but

1.3% of property taxes had been collected.

ON TIME PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS

Property owners who pay on time avoid an automatic 10% late-payment penalty in July. Following three years of non payment, municipalities are also required by the Local Government Act to auction the property through a tax sale. To avoid this unhappy outcome, City Finance staff make every effort to connect with property owners whose taxes are unpaid, through multiple letters, and if other contact information is available, staff will reach out by phone and

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BYLAW SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

Expanded access to Council meetings Following 18 months of virtual-only public attendance at Council meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public was once again invited to attend meetings in person at Courtenay City Hall in September, while maintaining access to electronic options. The following month, the physical location of Council meetings moved from City Hall to the larger Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Civic Room at 770 Harmston Avenue, further increasing attendance options and increasing comfort for those viewing or participating in person. This “hybrid” model gives spectators, delegates, and members of Council the choice of attending in person on a first-time, first served basis as space permits, or virtually, where numbers are unlimited. Permanent access to convenient virtual options was made possible thanks to changes in provincial legislation and newly granted authorities under the Province of B.C.’s Bill 10-2021. The change allows the public to watch and participate in Council meetings from anywhere, making access to local government discussion and important policy decisions more accessible. Both Council meetings and Public Hearings are live streamed on the City of Courtenay’s YouTube channel. Local governments across the province recognized and experienced some of the benefits of electronic participation during the pandemic. Public attendance at Council had been prohibited since March 2020 under the authority of Ministerial Order Nos. M83/2020 and M192/2020 and the Class Order on mass gatherings. To view the schedule for upcoming Council meetings and Public Hearings, along with agendas, minutes, and video of past meetings, visit courtenay.ca/councilmeetings

Increase in Bylaw division Using Covid Restart funding, the City hired a temporary full-time bylaw officer in the fall of 2020. In 2021 the temporary full-time bylaw officer position continued and in the fall of 2021 the City hired a Bylaw Services Manager. The increase in bylaw resources is required to address bylaw compliance issues as well as to undertake more complex bylaw enforcement processes, such as nuisance properties and investigations.

BYLAW ENFORCEMENT HOURS

Addressing nuisance properties Under the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 2987, Courtenay City Council declared 1655 20th Street a “nuisance property” in April, launching a legally binding process to begin recouping costs for enforcement from the City of Courtenay, RCMP, and Fire Department, including cost recovery for staff time, vehicles, equipment, and contractors. The City recovered $22,556 in nuisance abatement costs in 2021. Routine inspection of encampments Working collaboratively with community partners, Bylaw Services implemented a new routine inspection program of encampments occupied by persons experiencing homelessness. The City now requires encampments to be dismantled each morning and the area to be cleaned. Bylaw enforcement officers have prioritized the development of strong working relationships with persons experiencing homelessness and community partners. In addition, Public Works staff, several community outreach groups, peer groups, and occupants are actively involved in cleaning, removing, and disposing of garbage from encampment areas.

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

HUMAN RESOURCES

RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES

Health and safety The City of Courtenay's Occupational Health and Safety Program has shown an overall downward trend in the number of employee injuries each year, as well as lower injury severity levels. This has earned the City a significant reduction in WCB insurance premiums: 15% less than the industry base rate. The reduction of injuries is a good reflection of how the safety program has matured along with the City's corporate culture. Through a workforce that is well-educated and engaged on safety, health and safety training has been standardized at a high level, with strong orientation and competency programs at work. The graph below illustrates City's injury frequency and lost-time injuries from 2013 to 2021, compared to the average lost-time injuries for industry (municipalities). Department Successes The Human Resources Division has celebrated many successes in the areas of Occupational Health & Safety and recruitment that illustrate the dedication of the HR team. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Human Resources supported City staff by promoting mental health, education, and safety protocols. Between 2019 and 2021, there was a 53% increase in recruitment activities with the same staff resources. Leveraging the inherent attractiveness of Courtenay as a place to live, work and play, the HR Team demonstrated its commitment by increasing its recruitment success rate over the same period.

Thanks to below-average injury rates and time loss, Courtenay pays 15% less than the industry base rate in WorkSafe insurance premiums.

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COMMUNICATIONS

ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

UNIQUE WEBSITE VISITS:

Website traffic The City of Courtenay website saw a large jump in traffic in 2021, with over 650,000 unique visits - a 20% increase over 2020. While some major city initiatives contributed to the increase, including the 5th Street Bridge project and the roll-out of the new curbside collection schedule, there was an overall increase in visits throughout the entire website as our community continued shifting to online services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media Social media followers capture the total number of followers on multiple social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. In 2021 the City’s total social media followers increased by 12%, about 4% of which is directly attributed to the addition of Instagram. The City continues to be active on social media communicating policy decisions, engagement opportunities, program information, project updates and other initiatives in the community. Solid Waste Program Updates Changes to the curbside collection schedule began on January 1, 2021. Collaboration and extensive communication efforts that launched in 2020 continued throughout 2021 to ease residents into the new schedule. Public education in 2021 included a community-wide postcard mail-out, radio ads, social media reminders, and contests, with updated zone-specific calendars mailed to households in December. Courtenay residents adapted so well to the collection day changes, Public Works Services received only 57 direct inquiries about the schedule from the public throughout the entire year. The Courtenay Collects app, which provides schedule information, reminders, and guidance on "what goes where", was key to the success of the schedule changes. View or download the app at courtenay.ca/recycling

SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS:

WHERE YOU FOLLOW US:

COURTENAY COLLECTS APP

Year

2019

2020

2021

Households subscribed to Courtenay Collects % of households subscribed

782

2011

3418

9% 22% 38%

Calendar views

20,246 31,052 139,275

First time visitors

4,428 2,100

7,087 14,457

2,383

2,051

New addresses

Waste Wizard material views

9,469

9,414 14,209

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

PUBLIC WORKS Snow and Ice Control in 2021

The Parks Services Division leads the sidewalk snow and ice control program, with 60 lane kms of sidewalks maintained with a variety of modified turf management equipment. Sidewalk priority is given to arterial roads, emergency services facilities, bus stops, and the downtown core commercial area. Once the priority sidewalks have been addressed, crews attend school zones, prescribed collector roads, park frontages, multi-use paths, and trail linkages. To view snow clearing priority routes, and your role as a resident or business, visit courtenay.ca/snow

December 2021 was one of the snowiest in recent memory, with 48 centimeters accumulated, including heavy snow on Christmas Eve and continuing for days. The extended winter conditions strained crews and equipment to their limits. During snow events, Public Works Services maintains 341 lane km of paved roadway and a combined 210 lane km of sidewalks/multi-use paths with crews working up to 16-hour shifts, rotating to provide 24-hour coverage during snow events. Priority is given to arterial and collector roads, emergency services facilities, bus routes, steep hills, school zones, and the downtown core commercial area. Once the priority roads have been addressed, crews attend local roads and cul-de-sacs.

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COVID 19 AND CITY FACILITIES Gradual Reopening of City Facilities in July Following the move to Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan on July 1, 2021, the City of Courtenay made plans for a phased reopening of facilities, in addition to improved or new virtual services implemented in response to COVID-19. City Hall, Public Works Services, and the Courtenay Fire Hall reopened to the public effective July 5. In-person cemetery administration services were available that same month. Residents and businesses were encouraged to continue accessing many City services from the convenience and comfort of home. Courtenay Council meetings increased options for public attendance in September, with in-person attendance once again available, and existing virtual options maintained. This “hybrid” model will give spectators, delegates, and members of Council the choice of attending virtually or in person. Council meetings moved to the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Civic Room in October, with this larger space able to physically accommodate more people. Public Hearings remained virtual throughout 2021, with participation by telephone, web conferencing, or written submission. Courtenay Recreation Reopening Recreation facilities closed to the public on March 16, 2020. That summer, recreation facilities reopened with limited availability for program participants in compliance with Provincial Health Orders. In June 2021, Courtenay Recreation started making plans for the full re-opening of facilities and services with careful consideration for provincial orders and guidelines. An online survey was released that month to help staff better understand the priorities and comfort levels of patrons. The survey was completed by over 700 people, providing valuable feedback that informed decisions by Recreation staff. Facilities began reopening more fully starting in July and continued throughout the summer. A phased approach allowed staff to address capacity increases and operating changes. The following priority areas were identified for expansion of services and access: • Courtenay & District Memorial Outdoor Pool • Wellness Centre & Lewis Centre • Recreation Programs (drop-in fitness, Evergreen Club 55+ • The LINC Youth Centre

ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

Courtenay Recreation and COVID Adaptations Throughout the year Public Health Orders were amended numerous times outlining which specific programs and activities were permitted, and associated physical distancing requirements. Recreation staff continuously monitored and adapted programs, facilities and service levels in accordance with Public Health updates. This required extensive planning on required cancellation of services, relocation of programs, and adjustments to participant numbers to meet distancing requirements. Courtenay Recreation also shifted to pre-registration only for drop-in programs such as the Wellness Centre, outdoor pool, and fitness. In summer 2021, Recreation staff continued adapting to Public Health Orders for mandatory masking and proof of vaccination in public facilities, including recreation centres. Effective August 25, all members of the public 12 & over were required to wear a mask in all public areas. (Masks could be removed while engaged in physical activity in a program or in the Wellness Centre.) Proof of vaccination took effect on September 13, with participants 12 years and over needing to show proof of one vaccine dose to take part in adult programs, parent and tot classes, fitness and the Wellness Centre. Participants in children and youth programs were not required to show vaccine proof. On October 24, participants were required to show proof of two vaccine doses. Mandatory masking and proof of vaccination were lifted by the Province in spring 2022.

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

COURTENAY RECREATION

Facility operations Recreation Facility Operations is responsible for ongoing maintenance and care of all facilities including the Lewis Centre, Florence Filberg Centre, Native Sons Hall, The LINC Youth Centre, the Courtenay and District Memorial Outdoor Pool and various parks auxillary buildings. Recreation facility operations also provide customer service (reception), custodial services, indoor and outdoor facility rentals and special events. Free or low-cost events for all ages are focused on providing inclusive community activities that strive to limit financial or physical barriers to attendance.

There was a steep decline in both indoor and outdoor facility rentals and associated revenue in 2020 due to the pandemic, associated facility closures, and public health restrictions on gatherings and events. Facilities gradually reopened in 2021and groups wanting to rent facilities were required to do a COVID safety plan that outlined how they would follow public heath restrictions in place at that time. Special events in 2021 included Family Day (take home art challenge), Party in the Parks, Halloween Parade and the Children's Christmas Party. OUTDOOR RENTALS (pool, parks, sports fields) Year 2019 2020 2021 # of Rental Bookings 6,742 1,539 1,742 Rental Hours 8,642 5,136 6,339 Rental Revenues $43,758 $11,100 $20,500

INDOOR FACILITY RENTALS

Year

2019

2020

2021

# of Rental Bookings 3,539

478

823

Rental Hours

25,700 9,598 23,628

Rental Revenues

$214,659 $35,900 $88,683

Halloween parade in downtown Courtenay

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Recreation programming The Recreation Programming Division is responsible for community registered and drop-in programming at various facilities, including: • Arts and Leisure • Adapted Programs for Adults • Active Recreation (sports and fitness) • Cozy Corner Preschool • Youth Services – The LINC Youth Centre • Summer Camps and Outdoor Pool programming • Recreation Guide • Recreation Access - for eligible Courtenay residents based on Statistics Canada Low Income Measure; supplemented in 2022 by Regional Leisure for Everyone Assistance Program (LEAP) pilot project for children and youth)

ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

RECREATION PROGRAM STATISTICS

The LINC Youth Centre had 2,155 drop-ins in 2021

2021

Year

2019

2020

Activities offered

1,909

937

1,037

Program registrations

13,365

1,742

5,140

Wellness Centre participants 56,022

13,638

33,000

Not available

Fitness Class drop-ins

3,277 2,143

8,536 2,155

LINC Youth Centre drop-ins

7,944

People funded by Recreation Access Program 349

471

187

39

Cozy Corner registrations

54

35

Outdoor Pool visits

12,476

7159

Pool closed (COVID)

4,624 volunteer hours in 2021

Grant funding for Courtenay Recreation The Comox Valley Regional District provided $90,000 in funding toward Adapted Programs for Adults, and approximately $156,000 for the Outdoor pool (a $63,934 capital grant and $92,100 pool operating funds.) The Comox Valley Community Foundation awarded Courtenay Recreation with approximately $59,000 to support 22 children with diverse abilities with up to eight hours of free drop-in children and youth programs. Courtenay Recreation was also able to use part of this grant funding to subsidize fees for adult adapted programs. The Ministry of Children and Family Development awarded Courtenay Recreation almost $80,000 for staff to support 32 children and youth with diverse abilities to attend summer camp programs at no additional cost to parent. The Summer Student Grant funded four positions for a total of $9,452. The Jays Foundation awarded $175 for Courtenay Recreation to run Challenger Baseball, a program that provides an opportunity for children with cognitive or physical disabilities to enjoy the full benefits of participation in baseball at a level structured to their abilities. Other grants included the BC Family Day Grant of $1000 and the Heritage Celebrate Canada Grant of $15,000.

914 kids in 136 camps in 2021

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

Record number of calls The department responded to 1053 incidents - the highest number of responses in their 106 year history. The previous record for responses was 881 incidents in 2017. The call volume for the first five months was consistent with 2020 but significant weather events in the summer and winter increased the call volume in the latter part of the year. COURTENAY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire prevention work The easing of some public health orders allowed the Fire Department to conduct fire inspections at pre-pandemic levels. Fire prevention staff also re-started public education programs in the fall, including smoke alarm checks, school visits, and conducting fire drills at both residential and commercial properties.

FIRE DEPARTMENT BY THE NUMBERS

2019

2020

2021

Emergency calls

566 240

553 281

740 313

Duty calls

Fire inspections Full time staff

1608

1712

1761

6

6

6

Paid-for-call firefighters

46

50

50 11

Provisional firefighters (waitlist)

8

8

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ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

Training and new recruits Members of the department had over 3,300 training hours on subjects including fire suppression, auto extrication, rope rescue and self-rescue techniques. A new recruit class with 11 participants started in September 2021. Member deployments The 2021 wildfire season in B.C. was the third worst on record. The Courtenay Fire Department assisted the Province of B.C. with crews deployed to Deka Lake and the Douglas Lake areas for a total of 20 days. During deployments, crews supported the B.C.Forest Service in attempts to divert the fires around populated areas. The experience that firefighters gained in these operations is an enormous benefit to our community should a similar situation happen here. Revenue generated from this assistance has been put towards the purchase of a new aerial ladder truck scheduled for delivery in 2022.

COURTENAY COURTENAY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

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Courtenay Fire Department in Deka Lake

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Service Areas

Courtenay Fire Protection District City of Courtenay

0 1 2 0.5 Km

Courtenay Fire Service Areas The Courtenay Fire Department serves both the City of Courtenay and the Courtenay Fire Protection District, with an estimated total population of 34,500 over 101.33 square kilometres.

Esri, HERE, Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, EPA, NRCan

NUMBER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSES BY TYPE

Alarms 175

Other 221

Smouldering 19 Urban Issues 17 Rescue 11

Hydro 34

Multi Vehicle 160

Structure 39

Medical 48

Open Burn 82

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

STRATEGIC PRIORITY: WE PROACTIVELY INVEST IN OUR NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT Focus on asset management for sustainable service delivery Look for regional infrastructure solutions for shared services Support actions to address Climate Change mitigation and adaptation Make progress on the objectives of the BC Climate Action Charter Advocate, collaborate and act to reduce air quality contaminants Support social, economic and environmental sustainability solutions

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INVEST IN OUR NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Dike Replacement and Flood Managment Plan

Drainage improvements at 200 Back Road Drainage improvements on municipal infrastructure located at 200 Back Road were completed in the fall. The work will reduce stormwater back-up, flood risk, and maintenance requirements, and increase worker safety during maintenance operations. Work included improvements to an existing earthen berm, replacement of an existing trash rack, and safety improvements. $200,000 for the project was provided through Community Works (Gas Tax) Funds. Sandpiper Drive-Millard Road Watermain Upgrade Project An upgraded watermain and fire hydrants were installed along Millard Road and Sandpiper Drive in the fall. The majority of the work took place along Millard Road and the south end of Sandpiper Drive. As part of the project, an archaeological investigation revealed several items of interest, and City staff are working closely with K'ómoks First Nation to recover potential culturally significant artifacts.

Courtenay experienced flooding within the past ten years that has highlighted vulnerabilities to existing dike infrastructure and a changing climate. The Dike Replacement and Flood Management Plan is a document that outlines the next steps required to manage the flood risk, and prepare area-specific plans. The project was initiated by Council in February 2019 with grant funding through Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping & Flood Mitigation Planning funding stream. By looking at modelling, localized flood management planning and regulatory tools were found to be the most effective option. This plan is just the beginning, and will be further developed in the next phase of the project. This will incorporate public education and consultation, and will align with the Coastal Flood Mapping Project and the Coastal Flood Adaption Strategy completed by the Comox Valley Regional District.

Drainage Improvements at 200 Back Road

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

5TH STREET BRIDGE PROJECT

Communication Public engagement with the community was integral to the project. Large-scale engagment with the public and community partners began in 2019. An open house offered members of the public the opportunity to review project plans, speak with project staff and provide feedback. Regular updates were provided to Council throughout 2019 and 2020. In January 2021, over 2,100 people participated in a survey to voice their preferred colour for the bridge with more than half voting for "classic green" over matte black or silver. As the project moved to construction, regular and proactive communication was shared across a variety of channels. Social media offered an immediate, economical, and effective forum for sharing project updates with the community. Bridge updates on Facebook consistently garnered some of the highest engagement of all City of Courtenay posts, giving an opportunity to provide context of the complexity and importance of bridge rehabilitation, along with interesting elements of the project. Major news and updates were distributed to media outlets for public distribution. Full-page newspaper ads leading up to construction ensured the community was well-informed of changes to traffic patterns and expected delays. A project e-newsletter provided updates to those most affected or interested in the project. Project budget The project budget to rehabilitate the 5th Street Bridge was $6.5 million. The construction contract was valued at $5.4 million. Additional project costs included project management, traffic optimizations, and contingency. The City of Courtenay received $1.96 million in grant funding from the New Building Canada – Small Communities Fund. The remainder of the project costs were funded by the City of Courtenay, including $3.4 million in borrowing.

Why did the bridge need rehabilitating? Originally constructed in 1960, the 5th Street Bridge is an important transportation connection in the Comox Valley, linking key networks to downtown Courtenay and beyond. Although the bridge has been

regularly maintained, the lead-based coating was at the end of its service life. Corrosion of the steel structure

The 5th Street Bridge Project was the City's largest infrastructure project in decades.

and the bridge deck were also identified as needing repair. Scope of work

The project was Courtenay's largest infrastructure project in decades, and included removal of the existing

concrete overlay, repairs to the bridge deck and deck beams, refurbished handrails, removal of the lead paint, recoating of the steel structure, and new road markings. The lead paint removal required that the bridge be “wrapped” to prevent contaminants from entering the environment. The scaffold installation, as well as subsequent repairs to the bridge deck, resulted in the bridge being reduced to single lane alternating traffic for the duration of the project.

Transportation impacts during construction A traffic management strategy was developed to evaluate the impacts the project would have on road users. Maintaining safe access for all modes of the transportation during the construction was a priority for the project team. The strategy recommended a single lane alternating traffic sequence to allow traffic to cross the bridge at all times. Priority lanes were established for emergency services, transit and cyclists. Dedicated space was provided on the bridge deck for pedestrians. Maintaining single-lane traffic across the bridge during construction added an estimated $700,000 to the project budget.

To learn more about the project visit courtenay.ca/fifthstreetbridge

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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INVEST IN OUR NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Bridge wrapped to prevent lead paint and other contaminants from entering environment.

Safely removing lead paint in protective gear

Wrap removed, revealing fresh new coating

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City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

Greenwood Trunk sewer connection New sanitary sewer mains have been installed off Anderton Road, along with a new sewer pump station to accommodate current and anticipated development in East Courtenay. This project was the top priority in the City of Courtenay's Sewer Master Plan. The project re-routes a portion of East Courtenay’s sewage flows to an existing portion of the Greenwood Trunk Sewer constructed by the Comox Valley Regional District in 2017. Construction began in 2020 and continued throughout 2021. Originally budgeted for $4.1 million, including $3 million in borrowing, the project experienced a prior

hydraulic breach from an underground aquifer in September 2020 during deep excavation works for lift station installation, and required a budget reallocation of $1,492,500. The repairs were completed successfully in May. In July 2021, a second hydraulic breach from a separate groundwater source unconnected to the first occurred during excavation. Remediation required an additional budget reallocation of $1,360,000. $1 million for the project has been provided through Community Works (Gas Tax) Funds.

City launches planning for McPhee Meadows Plans are underway to develop a conceptual design and eventually open a 4.6 hectare (11-acre) green space along the Puntledge River to the public, while preserving and restoring its riparian and wildlife habitat features. McPhee Meadows is located on the south bank of the Puntledge River in West Courtenay around 4.1 km upstream of the Courtenay River estuary. The land was donated to the City of Courtenay and Nature Trust BC by the late Robert George McPhee following his passing in 2010. The donation was part of the Federal Ecological Gift program, and as a requirement of this program must maintain biodiversity and environmental heritage features such as rivers, riparian areas, trees, and eagle nests. Public consultation on the project has begun, with input gathered from neighbours and the wider community through a survey launched in December 2021, continuing into 2022. Learn more at courtenay.ca/mcphee

ICF rail corridor

McPhee Meadows

Puntledge River

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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