MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL

VILLAGE OF LIONS BAY

Tuesday, January 06, 2026 at 6:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, 400 Centre Road, Lions Bay

And Via Zoom Video Conference

In Attendance:

• Mayor Ken Berry
• Councillor Neville Abbott
• Councillor Michael Broughton
• Councillor Jaime Cunliffe (Via Zoom)
• Councillor Ron McLaughlin

Staff In Attendance:

• Chief Administrative Officer, Ross Blackwell
• Deputy Corporate Officer, Kristal Kenna (Recorder)

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1.

Call to Order

Mayor Berry called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM

2.

Closure of Council Meeting 

The Open session of the meeting recessed at 6:06 PM

• Moved by: Councillor Broughton
  Seconded by: Mayor Berry

  THAT the meeting be closed to the public on the basis of matters to be considered under the following sections of the Community Charter and where required, the Council does consider that the matters could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public:

  (c) labour relations or other employee/staff relations
  (g) litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality

  Opposed (3)

  Councillor Abbott, Councillor Cunliffe, and Councillor McLaughlin

  DEFEATED (2 to 3)

3.

Reporting out from Closed portion of Meeting

No Closed session took place.

4.

Adoption of Agenda

The Mayor introduced Eric Villeneuve, the new Director of Operations. Mr. Villeneuve shared some of his Civil Engineering background.

The removal of Item No. 7.2 Action Minutes from the December 17, 2025 Special Meeting of Council from the agenda was discussed. Council expressed concerns about the mechanics of meetings which was suggested as a topic for discussion at a future meeting. The best practice of keeping action minutes, as recommended by Lidstone & Co., was also discussed.  

• Moved by: Councillor Broughton
  Seconded by: Councillor Abbott

  THAT the Agenda of January 6, 2026, be adopted as amended.

  CARRIED
• Amendment:
  Moved by: Councillor Abbott
  Seconded by: Councillor McLaughlin

  THAT Item No. 7.2 Action Minutes from the December 17, 2025, Special Meeting of Council be struck from the agenda.

  Opposed (4)

  Mayor Berry, Councillor Broughton, Councillor Cunliffe, and Councillor McLaughlin

  DEFEATED (1 to 4)
• Amendment:
  Moved by: Councillor Abbott
  Seconded by: Councillor Cunliffe

  THAT the report on the Snow Clearing Policy POL-2502 by Councillor Abbott be added as on-table under Item No.8 Business Arising from the Minutes.

  Opposed (1)

  Councillor Broughton

  CARRIED (4 to 1)

5.

Public Participation 

• Paula McLachlan expressed concerns about Tree Application No.136. Ms. McLachlan cited the benefits of the trees in the application, including noise barrier, shade, and wind protection.
• Bruce McLachlan expressed concerns about the spiraling of trees in Tree Application No.136.
• Liz Bell expressed concerns about Tree Application No.136. Ms. Bell  cited how the trees in the application benefit the neighborhood as a whole, by providing noise barrier, shade, and wind protection.
• Rob Peebles (applicant) supports Tree Application No.136. and suggests that Council defer a decision until they are able to visit the site. Mr. Peebles noted that 6 of the 9 neighbours canvased were in support of the application.
• Janice Spencer spoke in support of Tree Application No.136.

6.

Delegations

- None

7.

Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings

7.1

Regular Meeting of Council - December 9, 2025

• Moved by: Councillor Abbott
  Seconded by: Councillor McLaughlin

  THAT the Regular Meeting of Council Minutes of December 9, 2025, be approved. 

  CARRIED

7.2

Special Meeting of Council - December 17, 2025

8.

Business Arising from the Minutes

Councillor Broughton to bring a report on forming a task force regarding facility rentals and rates to the next regular Meeting of Council, January 20, 2026.

8.1

Councillor Report - Snow Clearing Policy

A language change has been made to the Policy, as requested in the report to apply "as resources allow" to all three levels of service.

9.

Unfinished Business

9.1

2024 Annual Report Final Draft

- This item was not discussed

9.2

Action Items Log

- Received for information

10.

Reports

10.1

Staff

10.1.1

Noise Relaxation Request

• Moved by: Councillor Broughton
  Seconded by: Councillor Abbott

  THAT Council grant an exception to Noise Bylaw No. 283, 1998, to permit for amplified sound after the hours of 10:00 pm August 2, 2026 until 11:59 pm, at 17 Brunswick Beach Road.

  CARRIED

10.1.2

Tree Application No. 136 – 45 Periwinkle Place

A decision on the application was tabled until Council is able to visit the site to make further evaluations of the tree spiraling. Staff to schedule a date and time for Council to meet with the applicant on-site.

• THAT Council approve Tree Cutting Permit Application No. 136 subject to the following conditions:

  1. The two trees in the application can be spiraled to the maximum extent;
  2. The blue municipal steel water valve be protected from damage;
  3. All associated debris shall be removed and the site cleaned to the condition prior to tree cutting;
  4. That the Municipality shall be notified as soon as possible after the cutting to advise that the subject work has been completed;
  5. compliance with the Bylaw restrictions regarding bird nesting season;
  6. if working from the road, a traffic control plan approved by Public Works;
  7. damage deposit, arborist/contractor’s WorkSafe BC certificate and insurance in compliance with Municipal requirements, and any other Municipal bylaw requirements.
• Amendment:
  Moved by: Councillor McLaughlin
  Seconded by: Councillor Broughton

  THAT Tree Application No. 136 be tabled to a future meeting, and;

  THAT Staff coordinate a date and time for Council to meet with the applicant on-site.

  CARRIED

10.1.3

Tree Application No. 137 – 135 Oceanview Road

• Moved by: Councillor McLaughlin
  Seconded by: Councillor Broughton

  THAT Council approve the Tree Cutting Permit Application No. 137 subject to the following conditions:

  1. All tree cutting be consistent with the tree cutting application;
  2. All associated debris shall be removed and the site cleaned to the condition prior to tree cutting;
  3. That the Municipality shall be notified as soon as possible after the cutting to advise that the subject work has been completed;
  4. compliance with the Bylaw restrictions regarding bird nesting season;
  5. if working from the road, a traffic control plan approved by Public Works;
  6. damage deposit, arborist/contractor’s WorkSafe BC certificate and insurance in compliance with Municipal requirements, and any other Municipal bylaw requirements.
  CARRIED

10.1.4

Tree Application No. 138 – 220 Isleview Place

Council discussed the topic of significant trees and how they are accounted for in the application, suggestion to review this part of the application.

Also discussed was bringing in an arborist to educate Council on tree malmanagement best-practices along with considering a tree preservation bylaw and the potential for requiring tree replacement when removing significant trees.

• Moved by: Councillor Broughton
  Seconded by: Councillor McLaughlin

  THAT Council approve the Tree Cutting Permit Application No. 138 subject to the following conditions:

  1. All tree cutting be consistent with the tree cutting application;
  2. All associated debris shall be removed and the site cleaned to the condition prior to tree cutting;
  3. That the Municipality shall be notified as soon as possible after the cutting to advise that the subject work has been completed;
  4. compliance with the Bylaw restrictions regarding bird nesting season;
  5. if working from the road, a traffic control plan approved by Public Works;
  6. damage deposit, arborist/contractor’s WorkSafe BC certificate and insurance in compliance with Municipal requirements, and any other Municipal bylaw requirements.
  CARRIED

10.2

Committees

10.2.1

Climate Action Committee Meeting

- None

10.2.2

Infrastructure Committee

- None

10.2.3

Finance Committee

- None

10.3

Mayor and Councillors

- None

10.4

Emergency

- None

11.

Resolutions

- None

12.

Bylaws

- None

13.

Correspondence

13.1

Correspondence List

Received as information and action required on:

a) Federal Leadership on Emergency Managment - suggestion that Staff prepare a report / submission to be workshopped and involve the Emergency Program Committee - due date is February 28, 2026. 

ACTION ITEM: CAO to prepare draft correspondence with and consultation of the Emergency Program Committee for Council regarding changes to Federal Emergency Management. 

ACTION ITEM: CAO to share with Council the draft report from Metro Vancouver (for which he was consulted), on the topic of Emergency Management and small communities.

14.

New Business

- None

15.

Public Questions and Comments

- None

16.

Adjournment

• Moved by: Councillor McLaughlin
  Seconded by: Councillor Abbott

  THAT the Council Meeting be adjourned.

  The meeting concluded at 8:12 PM

  CARRIED