The Comox Valley Regional District committee of the whole defeated a recommendation this week to sell a 20-foot strip of property at 865 Cliffe Ave. for $75,000 to Det Kunz, who owns a building next door at 841 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay.The 20-foot strip would afford more parking space and could provide a buffer between his business and a future building at the property. Last year, the district purchased a trio of lots for the purpose of establishing an emergency homeless shelter/supportive housing unit.Phelps and Comox director Paul Ives favoured the sale. Jangula questioned the wisdom of selling at this point when the board is not sure about the final user. Phelps noted Kunz is spending a considerable amount of money on his building in an effort to improve the look of the downtown area.Area B director Jim Gillis feels it is premature to consider selling. He suggests Kunz waits until the board decides how to utilize the property.   • • •The committee recommended implementing transit fare hikes of 25 cents for cash fares and 50 cents for HandyDART fares in July. Bus fares have not changed in three years. The committee also favoured amending a ‘no free bus pass’ policy. A new policy allows a discounted bus fare for kindergarten to Grade 12 and post-secondary students.Comox Valley has the lowest adult and HandyDART fares on Vancouver Island at $1.50 for an adult and $1.75 for handyDART. While the Valley has a slightly higher ridership, its cost recovery is lower than in similar-sized towns. The committee also likes a special events pilot program that would offer free transit service for Empire Days in Cumberland, Canada Day in Courtenay and Nautical Days in Comox. • • •The Kitty Cat PAL (Prevent A Litter) Society appealed to the regional district and Valley municipalities for a donation or long-term lease of four to six acres of land near the Pigeon Lake Landfill, or other land that may be suitable for a no-kill cat sanctuary. The society is modelling its proposal after the Richmond Animal Protection Society’s sanctuary, which houses about 900 cats at capacity. According to Kitty Cat PAL president Larissa Whitby, there are about 250,000 feral cats in the Valley. A feral cat is an ‘unsocialized cat’ that has not lived with humans, or could be a stray house cat that has become unsocial. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record