Town of Qualicum Beach AGENDA. Welcome to the Inaugural Meeting of Council

Transcription

1 AGENDA Welcome to the Inaugural Meeting of Council Page No. West Hall, Qualicum Beach Civic Centre 747 Jones Street, Qualicum Beach, BC Monday, December 1,2014-7:00 p.m. (This meeting may be recorded) 1. CALL TO ORDER by Corporate Administrator 2. PROCESSION OF COUNCIL-ELECT Mount Arrowsmith Pipe Band Piper Josh Dieleman, RCMP S/Sgt. Hunter, and Town Crier Len Mustard and Wife, to escort the Council-elect into the Pioneer Hall 3. OFFICIAL CRY: Len and Marie Mustard, Town Crier and Wife 4. NATIONAL ANTHEM: O Canada - Led by Maureen O'Hearn 5. BLESSING: Reverend Phil Spencer 6. ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS OF OFFICE The Honourable Judge Dohm, BC Provincial Court, to administer the Oath of Office to each member of Council-elect: Mayor-Elect Teunis Westbroek Councillor-Elect Barry Avis Councillor-Elect Neil Horner Councillor-Elect Bill Luchtmeijer Councillor-Elect Anne Skipsey 7. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA THAT Council adopts the December 1,2014 Inaugural Council meeting agenda. 8. WELCOME AND APPRECIATION by Mayor Westbroek 9. PRESENTATIONS TO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS By Mayor Westbroek, on behalf of Council, to: Mary Brouilette Scott Tanner Dave Willie

2 Town of QuaHcum Beach December 1,2014 Inaugural Council Meeting Agenda Page 2 of BOARD APPOINTMENTS (a) Regional District of Nanaimo Board THAT Council appoints Mayor Teunis Westbroek as the Municipal Director on the Regional District of Nanaimo Board with the following alternates: December November 2015 Councillor Avis December November 2016 Councillor Luchtmeijer December November 2017 Councillor Horner December October 2018 Councillor Skipsey (b) Vancouver Island Regional Library Board THAT Council appoints Councillor Avis as the Town of Qualicum Beach representative to the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VTRL) Board for a one year term for 2015; and further appoints Councillor Horner as the alternate Town of Quahcum Beach representative for a one year term for 2015; AND FURTHER THAT these appointments continue until a successor is appointed, as provided under Section 18(3) of the Library Act, or unless removed for cause as provided under Section 18(4) of the Library Act Council Meeting Schedule (per Procedure Bylaw) - For Information 12. STAFF REPORTS (1) Local Government Election Results - For Information 13. Message from the Mayor 14. ADJOURNMENT THAT Council adjourns the December 1,2014 Inaugural Council meeting. [Customarily we have comment sfrom the gallery prior to adjournment oftlte meeting; however, to celebrate the inaugural meeting of Council, we would like to invite you to join Council for a -public reception.] Public Reception to Follow NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS: Regular Meeting: Monday, January 12,2015, 7:00 pm Regular Meeting: Monday, January 26,2015, 7:00 pm

3 2015 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE (Schedule and Location Subject to Change with Notice) The 2015 regular meetings of the Town of Qualicum Beach Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall (unless indicated otherwise) located at 660 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach at 7:00 pm on the following Mondays: January 12, 2015 January 26, 2015 February 2, 2015 February 16, 2015 March 9,2015 March 23, 2015 April 13,2015 April 27,2015 May 11, 2015 May 25, 2015 June 8, 2015 June 22, 2015 July 13, 2015 August 10, 2015 September 14, 2015 September 28, 2015 October 5, 2015 October 19, 2015 November 2,2015 November 16, 2015 December 7, 2015 OTHER MEETINGS & OPEN HOUSE: 2 n d Wednesday each month 10:00 am Committee Room 2nd Wednesday of January, May & Sept 2:00 pm Committee Room Public Open House (Hosted by the Mayor and the Councillor designated as Acting Mayor) Select Committee on Public Safety Wednesday before the regular Council meeting Monday 9:00 am Committee Room Special Council Meeting, if topic requires closing the meeting to the public 4 t h Wednesday each month 9:00 am Council Chamber Special Council Meeting, and at other times, if required 1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month 1 s t Thursday of Feb, May Sept & Nov 1 s t Thursday each month 2:00 pm Council Chamber Advisory Planning Commission, if application 9:00 am Committee Room Heritage Forest Commission 3:00 pm Council Chamber Board of Variance, if application The agenda for each meeting is posted at and on the Town of Qualicum Beach Public Notice Boards at Town Hall. For further information or questions regarding Council or committee meetings, contact Heather Svensen, Corporate Administrator (hsvensen@qualicumbeach.com or ). Town of Qualicum Beach Primrose Street, PO Box 130, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K1S7 P F qbtown@qualicumbeach.com N:\ ADMINISTRATION\0360 COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS\2015 COUNCIL & COMMITTEE MEETING DATES.DOCX

4 MEMORANDUM TO: Daniel Sailland, CAO FOR: Inaugural Council Meeting - December 1, 2014 FROM: SUBJECT: Heather Svensen, Corporate Administrator/ Chief Election Officer 2014 General Local Election Report RECOMMENDATION: For Information PURPOSE: To provide the statutory report and additional information on the 2014 General Local Election. BACKGROUND: Until 2014, the Local Government Act required general local elections to be held on the third Saturday in November every three years. A change to the legislation was made in 2014 providing for a four-year term of office giving municipalities more time to consult, plan and achieve community goals - and manage election costs. With the change in legislation, the next general election will be held on October 20, The Act also requires the Chief Election Officer to declare official election results by 4:00 pm on the fourth day after General Voting closes and to submit a report on the election results to the local government within 30 days of the declaration of official election results, including a compilation of the information on the ballot accounts for the election. Local government elections are also regulated by the bylaw adopted by Council. Council adopted Election Procedures Bylaw in July 2008 which added the ability in the last two elections (2008 and 2011) to use the Provincial Voters List and a process to permit voting by mail. An amendment in 2014 provided Special Voting Opportunities (e.g. for residents and employees at The Gardens). PROJECT INFORMATION: Official election results for the November 15, 2014 election were declared November 17, 2014 following the Final Determination held at 10:00 am. I have attached the compilation of information on the ballot account reports and voter turnout for the 2014 General Local Election. As a result of the voting, I declared elected the following candidates: MAYOR COUNCILLORS Teunis Westbroek Barry Avis Neil Horner Bill Luchtmeijer Anne Skipsey More people voted in the 2014 Town of QuaHcum Beach local government election than in any previous municipal election held in our community; a total of 4,542 bauots were cast, as compared to 4,122 in 2011, 3,891 in 2008 and 2,902 in The use of the Provincial Voters List as the base for our List of Registered Electors resulted in 254 New Registrations on Voting Days which compares to 162 in 2011, 201 in 2008 and 829 in The Town's overau percentage voter turnout was 60.1% (vs. 55% in 2011, 54% in 2008 and 64% in 2005). Our 60.1% turnout in 2014 is higher than provincial average for municipahties and exceeds the turnout experienced in 2014 in other Hke-sized communities and neighbouring commmiities, eg., Comox 41.4%, Ladysmith 42.5%, Lantzville 49.3%, Parksville 35.2%, Port Alberni 46.4%, and Nanaimo 34.7%.

5 December 1,2014 Council Agenda General Local Government Election Results Page 2 of 5 The 2014 General Local Election represents the sixth time the Town of Quahcum Beach utilized the automated vote counting system, again resulting in high voter and staff satisfaction with the system because the machines: operate relatively problem-free; detect over-voted ballots and provide the voter with the opportunity to return a spoiled ballot and receive a new ballot; and allow election results to be rapidly compiled following the close of voting. This year, even after the additional time required after 8pm to process mail ballots, results were compiled and announced to those in attendance, and sent to Civiclnfo and posted to the Town's website by 8:40 pm. Submitting the election results to Civiclnfo (which also has a link from our website) provides the public with an opportunity to not only access the Town election results promptly, but to also view the results of other local governments. The Mail Ballot Voting option was very well received and represents the third election where the Town offered the opportunity to vote by mail. The 181 electors who registered to vote by mail were a mix of those who were out of town on vacation or housebound /unable to attend a voting place. The 181 was a marginal increase over the 171 electors in 2011, and 113 electors in 2008, who chose to register to vote by mail. Despite starting to distribute mail ballot packages on October 22 nd, 12 packages were not returned before the deadline at 8:00 pm on Saturday, November 15, 2014, and could not be counted. The mail process required considerable staff time to implement and to process; however, electors were very appreciative of the opportxinity to vote by mail. The Special Voting Opportunity at The Gardens was held on November 13, 2014 for residents and employees of The Gardens, in accordance with the Town's Election Procedure Bylaw No electors voted at this special voting opportunity. The Advance Voting Opportunity was held at the Civic Centre on November 5 and November 12, This was our third election since the Province's amendment of the Local Government Act, to open Advance Voting to all electors, and we found that the number of voters that choose this option continues to increase. The turnout on General Voting Day was above average. YEAR Town of Qualicum Beach Voter Turnout History NUMBER OF PEOPLE VOTING NUMBER OF REGISTERED ELECTORS (incl. New Registrations) VOTER TURN-OUT as a PERCENTAGE ,542 7,562 60% ,122 7,455 55% ,891 7,270 54% ,433 4,529 64% ,436 5,437 43% ,027 4,685 65% ,917 3,961 74%

6 December 1, 2014 Council Agenda General Local Government Election Results Page 3 of 5 With the many new processes implemented, we were fortunate to have Town staff, or former staff, assisting in the election preparations. Their related experience having worked numerous elections for the Town of Qualicum Beach was an asset to the process. In summary, the election was delivered efficiently, accurately, without any legal objections filed regarding the process, and in compliance with the Local Government Act and the Town's Election Procedures Bylaw. This is a statutory report provided for information. Heather Svensen Corporate Administrator/CEO Report Writer Financial Assistant/DCEO Concurrence Chief Administrative Officer Concurrence File: Gen N:\ ADMINISTRATION\0360 COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS\Council\2014\12 01 Regular Open Agenda\2014 General Local Election Results.doc

7 December 1, 2014 Council Agenda General Local Government Election Results Page 4 of General Local Election Results COMPILATION OF INFORMATION ON BALLOT ACCOUNTS 1. Number of ballots received for use 7, Ballots without objection 4, Ballots accepted subject to objection under s Ballots rejected without objection (includes blanks) 1 5. Ballots rejected subject to objection under s Spoiled ballots that were replaced under s Number of ballots given to the electors ( ) 4, Unused ballots 2, Number of ballots added under s.127(3) Number Of ballots not accounted for (GVD & Mail Ballots Not Returned) TOTAL ( ) NOTE: No. 1 & No. 11 must agree 7,305 MAYOR CANDIDATES Advance Special TOTAL Voting & Voting Voting VOTES Mail ELECTED WESTBROEK, Teunis WIDDIFIELD, Denyse COUNCILLOR CANDIDATES ELECTED SKIPSEY, Anne ELECTED AVIS, Barry ELECTED HORNER, Neil ELECTED LUCHTMEIJER, Bill BROUILETTE, Mary WILLIE, Dave MUSTARD, Len FRASER, Dolores LA MONTE, Diana

8 December 1, 2014 Council Agenda General Local Government Election Results Page 5 of 5 Advance Voting Special Voting TOTAL VOTES Are you in favour of the Town of Qualicum Beach Council increasing in size from four (4) Councillors to six (6) Councillors effective November 2018? Yes No Registered Electors 7,308 VOTER TURNOUT: Plus New Registrations 254 # of Voters 4,542 Total Eligible Electors 7,562 / Total Eligible Voters 7,562 Voter Turnout 60.06%