Municipality of North Cowichan
Special Council
AGENDA

Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Closed Session: 1:00pm & Open Session: 3:00pm

Municipal Hall - Council Chambers & Electronically

This meeting which is open to the public, will be conducted in-person in Council Chambers and by video conference using the Cisco Webex platform, and will be streamed live and archived for viewing on demand at www.northcowichan.ca. All representations to Council form part of the public record.

 

Members of the public may attend the Municipal Hall [7030 Trans-Canada Highway] in person, or join the meeting electronically to participate during the 'Public Input' and 'Question Period' portions of the agenda. Please visit northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how to connect online or you may dial 1.844.426.4405, enter 1# for English, enter the meeting ID 2771 748 3872, and then enter the meeting password 1111.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

As soon as there is a quorum present after the time specified for the Council meeting, the Mayor shall call the meeting to order. If there is no quorum of Council present within 15 minutes of the scheduled time for the meeting, the Corporate Officer records the names of the members present and those absent, and adjourns the meeting until the next scheduled meeting.

2.

RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC [1:00PM - 3:00 PM]

Any matters that must or may be closed to the public in accordance with section 90 of the Community Charter shall appear here. A resolution of Council must be passed during the open portion which states that the remainder of the meeting is to be closed, including the basis under the applicable subsection.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council close the meeting at ____ p.m. to the public on the basis of the following sections of the Community Charter:

  • 90(1)(c) labour relations or other employee relations.
  • 90(1)(k) negotiations & related discussions re the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stages and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if held in public.
  • 90(2)(b)(iii) the consideration of information received and held in confidence relating to negotiations between the municipality and a first nation or a prescribed Indigenous entity, or between a first nation or a prescribed Indigenous entity and a third party

2.1

Approval of in-camera meeting Agenda

Matters must be taken up in the order that they are listed unless changed at this time.

2.2

In-camera meeting items

2.2.1

Closed under section 90(1)(c) Labour

2.2.2

Closed under Sections 90(2)(b)(iii) First Nation Negotiations and 90(1)(k) Municipal Service

2.3

Rise and Report

3.

RECESS UNTIL 3:00PM

4.

APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA

To consider any items of business not included in the Agenda that are of an urgent nature they must be introduced and approved at the time the agenda is adopted. Matters must be taken up in the order that they are listed unless changed at this time.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the agenda be adopted as circulated [or as amended].

5.

PRESENTATIONS AND PETITIONS

5.1

Presenters

In accordance with Council’s Delegations and Presenters Policy, a presenter [person or organization] is invited to appear before Council and is not subject to the 10-minute speaking limit.

5.1.1

Sulsimutstun Chief James Thomas of Halalt First Nation re- Chemainus Watershed Initiative

Purpose:  To receive a progress report on the Chemainus Watershed Initiative from Sulsimutstun Chief James Thomas of the Halalt First Nation and Cheri Ayers from Waters Edge Biological Consultants.

6.

PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Members of the public shall be provided an opportunity to address Council regarding matters to be considered at the meeting during Public Input.  The maximum number of speakers to be heard during the public input period is limited to five, with a maximum of three minutes allotted to each speaker.  Members of the public attending the meeting in person must register at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting by signing the sheet posted outside of Council Chambers. Members of the public attending electronically must raise their hand once the meeting has been called to order. Please visit northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how to raise your hand. Speakers are asked to state their name and residential address when commencing their address to Council.

7.

BYLAWS

Bylaws appearing under this section will be listed in order of readings as follows: (a) bylaws for adoption shall appear first, followed by (b) bylaws receiving third reading, then (c) bylaws receiving first and second or first three readings.

7.1

Bill 44 Compliance: Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 4040 initial readings

Purpose: To provide Council with Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 4040 to align Official Community Plan (OCP) policy text with new housing targets for consideration of first and second readings.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council:

  1. Having considered s. 475 of the Local Government Act, and in particular the matters set out in subsections (2)(a) and (b), resolves that:
     1. the following entities are the only persons, organizations and authorities that it considers will be affected and thereby require an opportunity for consultation:
        1. Island Health
        2. Agricultural Land Commission
     2. that consultation with these entities need not be early or ongoing; and
     3. that staff be directed to refer Bylaw 4040 to the entities listed under subclause a.
  2. Directs staff to refer Bylaw 4040 to the Cowichan Valley School District pursuant to Section 476 of the Local Government Act,
  3. Having considered the housing needs report, including the 2024 interim housing needs report, pursuant to Section 473.1(2) of the Local Government Act give first and second reading to Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 4040, 2025;
  4. Considers Bylaw 4040 in conjunction with the 2024-2028 Financial Plan, the Cowichan Valley Regional District Solid Waste Management Plan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District Central Sector Liquid Waste Management Plan; and
  5. Directs staff to schedule a public hearing for Bylaw 4040 pursuant to section 464(1) of the Local Government Act.

8.

REPORTS

This section includes reports from staff requiring a decision of Council and/or staff presentations. Staff reports for information only are placed in the Consent Agenda.

8.1

Council Strategic Priority – Forest Harvesting: Context, options, and implications

Purpose: To provide Council with background, strategic context, options, and implications regarding the potential resumption of forest harvesting in the Municipal Forest Reserve.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council

  1. Reaffirms its commitment to the co-management framework and plan development in partnership with Quw’utsun Nation.
  2. Directs staff to complete the co-management framework and plan in partnership with Quw’utsun Nation prior to reconsidering forest harvesting as a strategic priority.
  3. Directs staff to notify Quw’utsun Nation of Council’s decision.

9.

NEW BUSINESS

This section includes external items that require a decision of Council, items that have been removed from the Consent Agenda, and motions submitted by Council members, where previous notice has been given, for Council consideration.

10.

QUESTION PERIOD

Members of the public shall be provided an opportunity to ask questions of Council regarding matters discussed at the meeting and shall be allotted up to 30 seconds each to ask their question. Question Period is limited to 15 minutes.

11.

ADJOURNMENT

Once all the business is done and over with, the Mayor may declare the meeting adjourned without requiring a resolution of Council.