METRO VANCOUVER REGION

The City of Burnaby received a petition from Edward Pereira requesting an exemption for the Brentwood Park area from the application of Bill 47, a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) legislation. The petition, certified by the Corporate Officer, contained a total of 298 names and was presented to the City Council on April 29, 2024.

• The petition seeks to prevent the Brentwood Park area from being subjected to the TOD zoning under Bill 47, which could lead to the development of 12 and 8 storey towers in the neighborhood.
• The petition was filed with the Corporate Officer on April 23, 2024 and met all the requirements set out in the Community Charter.
• The Corporate Officer certified that the petition contained 298 names, including 138 names from the petition and 160 names from 58 emails that provided consent and their civic address.
• The City's website provides further details about the petition process under the Meetings & Public Hearings / Petition Process section.

• Recommendation: The petition has been received for information by the City Council.
• The City will now consider the petition and its implications for the Brentwood Park area in relation to the application of Bill 47.

The City of Vancouver has released its Annual Procurement Report for 2023, highlighting the city's procurement activities, savings, and sustainable initiatives. The report covers the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

• The City awarded $478,599,975 in contracts in 2023, resulting in $34,815,536 (~7%) in procurement savings.
• Council approved 18 contracts valued at $311 million, and the Bid Committee approved 49 contracts valued at $350 million.
• 87.3% of contracts were awarded through a competitive bid process, and 12.7% were sole sourced under the Procurement Policy provisions.
• The City generated $1,580,922 in revenue through the auctioning of surplus assets.

• The City's Sustainable Procurement program focuses on supporting Council priorities and strategies, including the Climate Emergency Action Plan and Healthy City Strategy.

The British Columbia government has identified 20 additional priority municipalities to receive housing targets for the next five years, as part of its efforts to address the housing crisis in the province. These communities are located in high-growth, high-need regions and will work with the province to meet their targets, which will be announced this summer.

• Central Saanich
• Chilliwack
• Colwood
• Esquimalt
• Kelowna
• City of Langley
• Maple Ridge
• Mission
• Nanaimo
• New Westminster
• North Cowichan
• North Saanich
• City of North Vancouver
• Port Coquitlam
• Prince George
• Sidney
• Surrey
• View Royal
• West Kelowna
• White Rock

• Historic $1-billion Growing Communities Fund: To help 188 local governments address population growth
• $10 million for a second intake of the Local Government Development Approvals Program: To support municipalities
• $51 million in grant-based funding: To support activities or projects, such as updating existing zoning bylaws, housing needs reports, and official community plans

• The Housing Supply Act was introduced in 2023 to establish housing targets for the first 10 priority municipalities
• Municipalities are taking action to approve housing quicker through the implementation of provincial legislation, such as allowing small-scale multi-unit housing, designated Transit-Oriented Areas, updated Official Community Plans, and streamlined local-development approval processes

The British Columbia government is introducing new regulations to improve the maintenance and repair of common property in strata corporations. The key changes include requiring depreciation reports every five years, instead of the previous three-year cycle, and mandating that these reports be obtained from qualified professionals.

• Existing strata corporations with five or more strata lots must obtain depreciation reports on a five-year cycle, effective July 1, 2024.
• All strata corporations must obtain depreciation reports from qualified professionals, including engineers, certified reserve planners, architects, appraisers, and quantity surveyors, effective July 1, 2025.
• Owner-developers of new strata corporations with five or more strata lots will be required to contribute a minimum of $5,000, plus $200 per strata lot, up to a maximum of $30,000, towards the cost of the first depreciation report, effective July 1, 2027.
• Strata corporations with four or fewer lots will continue to be exempt from the depreciation report requirement.

• Strata corporations formed between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2027: Must obtain depreciation reports within two years of the first annual general meeting and every five years thereafter.
• Strata corporations formed on or after July 1, 2027: Must obtain depreciation reports within 18 months of the first annual general meeting and every five years thereafter.
• Strata corporations without depreciation reports or with reports received prior to December 31, 2020: Must obtain reports by July 1, 2026, if located in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, or the Capital Regional District (excluding the Gulf Islands and other islands), or by July 1, 2027, if located in other areas of the province.

The City of Surrey has proposed a 2024-2028 Five-Year Financial Plan that includes a 6% property tax increase, a 1% roads and traffic levy increase, and user fee increases up to 3.5%. The plan focuses on public safety, with funding for additional police, fire, and bylaw enforcement positions.

• Policing: The City is currently in a legal dispute with the provincial government over the transition to the Surrey Police Service. Any potential financial support from senior governments will be incorporated into future financial plans.
• Fire Services: The budget includes funding for 20 new firefighter and fire prevention positions to address increased demand in South Surrey.
• Bylaw Services: The plan includes funding for 10 additional bylaw enforcement officers per year, as approved in the 2023-2027 Financial Plan.

• The roads and traffic levy increase of 1% will support ongoing maintenance and capital improvements to the city's transportation infrastructure.
• The secondary suite fee increase of approximately $155 per suite is intended to offset the increased costs of city services due to additional demand from secondary suites.

The Government of British Columbia is providing up to $300 million in new capital funding to TransLink, the regional transportation authority for Metro Vancouver, to support the purchase of new buses and service expansion in the 2024 Investment Plan.

• The funding will enable more frequent bus service, reduced overcrowding, and extended hours of operation for more than 60 routes, as well as improved late-evening availability for HandyDART services.
• This investment builds on the province's previous $479 million contribution last year, which is being used for immediate service increases.
• The funding supports the region's growing population and the need for a transit system that can keep up, particularly in fast-growing communities like Surrey and Langley.

• SkyTrain Expansion: The SkyTrain network will see a 27% increase with the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension and the Broadway Subway project.
• Bus Rapid Transit: New bus rapid transit services will be introduced along various corridors in Metro Vancouver, featuring improved rider amenities, dedicated bus lanes, and greater efficiency.

The article discusses a webform submission from a Burnaby resident, Michelle Scarr, who represents the organization Movement - Metro Vancouver Transit Riders. Scarr and Spencer Powell, volunteers for Movement, wish to appear before the Burnaby City Council on March 2, 2024, to express their support for Translink's proposed Rapid bus route that would connect North Vancouver and Metrotown.

• Translink is proposing two Rapid bus route options: one along Hastings and Willingdon, and the other on Boundary and 1st/Halifax.
• The delegation is speaking in strong support of the Hastings alignment, as it will relieve congestion, bring people directly to destinations in Burnaby Heights, help businesses, improve access, decrease reliance on vehicles, and improve safety.
• The delegation has a petition in support of the Hastings alignment and hopes the mayor and council will support this alignment.

The City of Burnaby conducted a pilot program in 2023 to allow for the responsible consumption of alcohol in select parks. The program was deemed a success, with limited feedback and no increase in enforcement or complaints. The city now seeks to make the program permanent and expand it to all city parks, with a new bylaw set to take effect in June 2024.

• The pilot program ran from June 23 to October 30, 2023, in four parks across the city: Confederation Park, Keswick Park, Central Park, and Edmonds Park.
• The program allowed alcohol consumption throughout the parks, with restrictions within a 10-meter radius of programmed amenities like playgrounds and sports courts.
• A public survey received 45 responses, with the majority of feedback focused on confusion around the 10-meter restriction.
• There was no notable increase in calls, complaints, or garbage/waste issues during the pilot program.

• Recommendation: Expand the program to all city parks as a year-round and permanent initiative.
• The new Burnaby Responsible Consumption of Alcohol in Parks Bylaw 2024 is set to take effect on June 24, 2024.
• The bylaw will include amendments to the Burnaby Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2009 to impose penalties for violations.

The City of Burnaby has provided an update on the status of several major civic building projects, including the Rosemary Brown Arena, Confederation Park Covered Sports Box, Riverway Covered Sports Box, Fire Hall #4, and Fire Hall #8.

• Located in Edmonds Town Centre, the arena features two NHL-sized pads and can accommodate various sports and events.
• Provisional occupancy was granted in late December, with full occupancy expected once outstanding items on the roof-top patio are complete.
• Recreation staff have moved in and are setting up for programming to begin in April.

• The project replaces the existing outdoor lacrosse courts with a new covered multi-sport box.
• The project has achieved substantial completion, with remaining deficiencies being addressed.
• Recreation staff are developing schedules and allocation of space for future uses, including lacrosse, ball hockey, pickleball, and more.

• The project involves covering the existing multi-sport court at the Riverway Sports Complex and providing covered spectator seating.
• Construction is nearing completion and is expected to be finalized in Q1 2024.
• Remaining works include BC Hydro meter installation, commissioning, and final inspection for occupancy.

• The replacement of the existing Fire Hall #4 on Duthie Avenue was identified as a priority project.
• Construction is nearing completion, with works expected to be finalized in Q1 2024.
• Ongoing activities include completion of electrical distribution, BC Hydro connection, gym flooring, interior glazing, and millwork.

Vancouver has seen a surge in unlicensed and unregulated retail shops selling "magic" mushrooms and other entheogens, with no prosecution or business license regulations in place. Entheogens are psychoactive substances used for spiritual, therapeutic, and inspirational purposes, and have been used by indigenous peoples for centuries.

• Recreational use of natural psychedelics has doubled in the last three years, particularly among adults aged 19-30.
• Many entheogens are designated under Schedule 3 of Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which prohibits possession except for authorized therapeutic use.
• Despite the legal restrictions, mushroom dispensaries have popped up across Canada and online, selling psilocybin and entheogenic products, with no charges or convictions in Vancouver.

• Regulatory Framework: The City has the authority to regulate land use and businesses, and previously introduced the Medical Marijuana Related Uses (MMRU) framework to ensure availability and appropriate business conduct.
• Harm Reduction: The City recognizes that a regulated market of safe supply mushrooms and entheogens can be considered a form of harm reduction, and is committed to public safety and harm reduction.
• Proposed Action: The City directs staff to examine the legal context and a retail framework to regulate business licenses for retailers of entheogens, based on the MMRU framework, to achieve a balance between availability and community health, safety, security, aesthetics, equity, and enjoyment of property.