Following a lengthy process between the Town of Comox and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), the federal government will pay more than $1 million for five years for CFB Comox.
During a regular council meeting Wednesday, Mayor Paul Ives acknowledged the years of work that went into the long process.
“I want to pay tribute to former mayor (Jim) Brass who brought this forward and was diligent at a couple of (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) meetings to get meetings with similar communities about this issue,” he said.
“So thanks to staff for doing this … and I’m pleased to continue our good working relationship with senior levels of government as well as 19 Wing Comox.”
As part of the agreement, PWGSC will pay an additional $1,004,786 for the years of 2006 to 2010. Of this, $525,113 will be retained by the Town and $479,673 will be forwarded to the Province for school taxes, the Comox Valley Regional District, the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District, BC Assessment and the Municipal Finance Authority of BC.
Though it is exempt from taxation, the Government of Canada shares the cost of local government equitably with other property owners in the community through the PILT program.
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Comox council decided to await feedback with its neighbours before going to the dogs.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, council voted unanimously to table a motion for staff to investigate the feasibility of utilizing an area of Highland Park for an off-leash dog park and provide a report until the town work with the City of Courtenay to host a public forum on the issue of dog parks in 2012.
Following the forum, council will reexamine the issue, and could look at soliciting more feedback from neighbours directly in the area of question with a mailout.
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