Municipality of North Cowichan
Committee of the Whole
AGENDA

Tuesday, January 09, 2024 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Municipal Hall - Council Chambers & Electronically

This meeting will be conducted by video conference using the Cisco Webex platform. This meeting, though electronic, is open to the public and will be streamed live and archived for viewing on demand at www.northcowichan.ca.

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 you can connect online or you may dial 1.844.426.4405, enter 1# for English, enter the meeting ID 2772 838 9760, 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 30 minutes of the scheduled time for the meeting, the meeting is adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

2.

APPROVAL OF 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].

3.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

Purpose: To consider if there were any errors or omissions prior to adopting the minutes of previous meetings of Council.

3.1

Minutes from the December 19, 2023 meeting for adoption

• Recommendation:

  THAT the minutes of the meeting held December 19, 2023 be adopted, as circulated.

4.

DELEGATIONS

Delegations appear before Council in order to make a presentation, enter a request for action, or bring Council up to date on a project, idea, or concept, or to provide further information on an issue currently before Council for a decision. Delegations are limited to 10 minutes to make their address to Council unless extended by a unanimous vote of all Council members present. A delegation may not address Council on a bylaw for which a public hearing has been held or where a public hearing is required.

4.1

Annual North Cowichan Service Agreement report from Somenos Marsh

Purpose: Paul Fletcher, Executive Director, Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society to present an overview of the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society’s service agreement with North Cowichan.

5.

PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Public Input is an opportunity for the public to provide their feedback on matters included on the agenda. 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.

6.

STAFF REPORTS

This section includes reports from staff requiring a decision of Council and/or staff presentations.

6.1

Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Project Update

Purpose: To provide a progress update and feedback on the climate change risk and vulnerability assessment. A presentation by staff and Urban Systems Ltd. will be provided.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole direct staff to seek input from the Environmental Advisory Committee through review of the report dated January 9, 2024, titled “Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment – Project Update”.

6.2

2024 Grant-in-Aid – Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association

Purpose: To review the 2024 Grant-in-Aid application for Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association (CERCA) and recommend the amount to be approved.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommend that Council:

  1. Approve the 2024 Grant-in-Aid application from Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association in the amount of $[insert amount here]; and,
  2. That $[insert amount here] be added to the 2024 Grant-in-Aid budget.

6.3

2024 – 2028 Utility Rate Review

Purpose: To review proposed utility rate expenditure plans and rates for the 2024 – 2028 Financial Plan. The Director of Financial Services, Teri Vetter, will be providing a presentation.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole direct staff to prepare the Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw, a Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw and a Water and Sewer Parcel Tax Amendment Bylaw to:

  1. Increase Chemainus water parcel tax by 6% per year for ten years;
  2. Increase South End water parcel tax by 7% per year for ten years;
  3. Increase Chemainus sewer parcel tax by 4% per year for ten years;
  4. Increase Crofton sewer parcel tax by 6% per year for ten years;
  5. Increase South End sewer parcel tax by 7% per year for ten years; and
  6. Increase metered water rates (amounts over minimum) for all water utility systems by 6% in 2024 and an additional 0.5% per year thereafter for nine years.

7.

NEW BUSINESS

8.

QUESTION PERIOD

Question Period is an opportunity for the public to ask brief questions regarding the business discussed during the meeting. When invited by the Mayor, members of the public who are attending the meeting in person may step up to the podium to ask their question(s) and members of the public who are attending electronically may raise their hand at this time. Please visit northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting for instructions on how to raise your hand.

9.

ADJOURNMENT

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