Westport

The committee discussed a minor variance application for a property located at 8 Bedford Street. The proposal, titled 'Little Shops on Bedford,' aims to install shipping containers to support pop-up retail uses, creating an affordable opportunity for local entrepreneurs. The applicant requested relief from zoning bylaw provisions regarding interior sideyard setbacks and landscape open space. Discussion also touched upon upcoming changes to the village's zoning bylaw, which may impact the necessity of these variances in the future, and public support for the project was noted.

The committee discussed several items, including the adoption of the agenda and moving into a closed session regarding property security and personal matters of identifiable individuals. The committee reviewed a briefing note for the Westport event and recommended directing staff to develop a bylaw for regulating the event and similar future gatherings. Additionally, the committee discussed and approved the sole sourcing of McSweeney and Associates for the recreation master plan, with specific feedback to ensure the plan encompasses both recreation programming and infrastructure needs.

The council presented a volunteer recognition award for community service. Discussions were held regarding an EV charger report and a motion was carried to defer process changes until a rate study is completed. The council approved a server migration project, noting data sovereignty concerns. Additionally, the council approved amendments to the 2026 meeting schedule and reviewed a report on a zoning bylaw open house, specifically addressing shipping container regulations and potential zoning amendments.

The committee meeting covered a variety of municipal governance and operational topics. Key discussions included the potential implications of provincial legislation regarding the consumption of alcohol in public spaces during community events, where the committee decided to seek further information before proceeding. Additionally, the committee reviewed the ongoing operation of electric vehicle charging stations, ultimately recommending that any changes to the current service model be deferred until a comprehensive rate study is completed.

The Committee of the Whole held an open meeting following a closed session regarding municipal property security and personnel matters. The committee recommended that Council approve a server migration project to be performed by the village's existing IT service provider, transitioning physical servers to a cloud-based system to enhance storage capacity and cybersecurity provisions.