Mayor McKee rescinds Development Cost Charge bylaw revote

Mayor Mark McKee made a last minute decision to remove a request for council to reconsider its decision to defeat proposed Development Cost Charge Bylaw update.

The regular council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18 saw a packed public gallery waiting in anticipation for what they thought was going to be a reconsideration of the previous vote held during a special council meeting on Sept. 5. While some members of the public were questioning the legality of McKee’s request for reconsideration, it is in fact allowable under section 131 of the Community Charter.

“I get asked two or three times a year to reconsider a vote council has made. I do have the right to do this,” said McKee.

McKee said while the city has heard a lot from the development community, not a lot has been heard from the regular taxpayer. He questioned if costs being applied to the local taxpayer are too high and said if the previous vote had kept the bylaw moving forward there would have been an opportunity for council to seek more information. He also said he had been asked by several members of the community to bring the proposed bylaw updates back to council for reconsideration.

“I can tell you I’m sure everyone around the table has spent a considerable amount of time thinking about what they should be doing or not doing,” he said.

McKee said after reflection he does not believe bringing back the proposed DCC bylaw updates for reconsideration would change the outcome.

“Because vote was controversial with a split vote I would be looking for and hoping for a strong mandate for this to be moving forward. I am not feeling 100 % confident there is a a strong mandate,” said McKee. “ I have decided not bring this motion back to council for reconsideration. I apologize to community because it’s the wrong decision and it’s not being respectful to the whole taxpayer.”

Councillors Gary Sulz and Aaron Orlando both spoke in support of the mayor’s decision to stand down on his request for council to reconsider its decision, and that updates to the current DCC bylaw needs to be an immediate priority for the incoming council.