Municipality of North Cowichan
Regular Council
AGENDA

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

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 533 3579, 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.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

To adopt all recommendations appearing on the Consent Agenda in one motion, without discussion or debate. Included are items that are regular, non-controversial, or routine in nature. Any item may be moved out at the request of any Council member for discussion or debate, before the agenda is approved. Items removed from the Consent Agenda will be placed under New Business, as per Council's Consent Agenda Policy.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council approve the Consent Agenda and the recommendations contained therein.

2.1

Items for Decision

All recommendations provided under each of the items listed below will be adopted once the Consent Agenda is approved, unless removed and placed under New Business. 

2.1.1

Council Meeting Minutes for Adoption

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

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopt the minutes of their regular meeting held April 1, 2026.

3.

APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA

3.1

Introduction of Late Items

To consider a late item of business not included in the agenda it must be introduced and approved at the time the agenda is adopted, and placed under New Business.

3.2

Changes to Order of Business

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

• Recommendation:

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

4.

MAYOR'S REPORT

The Mayor may provide an update to Council on recent activities and important announcements. 

5.

PUBLIC INPUT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Public Input is an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on matters included on the agenda. The maximum number of speakers to be heard during the public input period is limited to five (5), and each speaker is allotted up to a maximum of three (3) minutes to provide their input. Members of the public must register at least 10 minutes and not more than 30 minutes before the meeting using the webform available on North Cowichan’s website. Please visit Addressing Council to access the webform and for instructions on how to participate. Speakers are asked to state their name and residential address when commencing their address to Council, as per Council’s Public Input and Meeting Conduct Policy.

6.

PRESENTATIONS AND PETITIONS

6.1

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.

6.1.1

BC Ferries re- Crofton Ferry Terminal project update

Purpose: For Floridor Oprea, Project Manager, and Emma McWalter, Manager Terminal Strategic Planning, and Kirsten Youngs, Strategic Advisor, Fleet Renewal, of BC Ferries to present to Council and give a project update regarding the Crofton Ferry Terminal upgrades.

6.1.1.1

Crofton Ferry Terminal Upgrades

Purpose: To provide Council with background information on British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. (BC Ferries) Crofton Ferry Terminal works scheduled from May 2026 to June 2027 and to seek Council approval to provide municipal land for crew parking, construction staging, and BC Hydro utility infrastructure.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council supports the Crofton Ferry Terminal project and service changes through approval of:

  1. A 15-month licence agreement to British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. for a site trailer and construction crane beginning May 2026, subject to approval from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans;
  2. A five-year licence agreement to British Columbia Ferry Services Inc for crew parking comprised of 21 parking spaces for $10,000 per annum; and,
  3. A Statutory Right of Way to BC Hydro for a pad mounted transformer, junction box, and underground infrastructure for $5,000.

6.1.1.2

Noise exemption request from BC Ferries – Crofton Ferry Terminal

Purpose: To seek Council approval for a temporary exemption to Noise Bylaw No. 2857 to allow BC Ferries to undertake necessary operational and/or infrastructure-related work at the Crofton ferry terminal.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council direct staff to implement an exemption to Noise Bylaw No. 2857 for the period from May 4, 2026, to April 30, 2027, to permit BC Ferries to undertake necessary operational and infrastructure related work at the Crofton Ferry Terminal, including intermittent night work occurring between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Sunday when required.

6.2

Delegations

In accordance with Council’s Delegations and Presenters Policy, delegations must submit their request at least seven (7) business days before the meeting they wish to appear before Council to make a presentation, request for action, provide an update on projects, or discuss issues not currently under consideration through an active input process.  Items must be of municipal interest or concern, and delegations are limited to 10 minutes to address Council.

6.2.1

Arnold Bercov, Fibre Security and Local Forest Jobs

Purpose:  For Arnold Bercov, Past President of The Public and Private Workers of Canada, part of the restart of Harmac Pulp Mill in Nanaimo to provide Council with more information regarding the Council Motion being brought forward on Fibre Security and Local Forest Jobs.

6.2.2

Brian Bull, Impacts of Raw Log Exports on Local Mills

Purpose:  For Brian Bull, Chemainus Sawmill employee and member of the United Steelworkers union to provide Council with more information regarding the impacts of log exports, particularly on the Chemainus Sawmill workers.

6.2.3

Consideration of a third delegation

Purpose: For Council to consider suspending section 7.7 of the Council and Committee Procedure Bylaw that limits delegations to two per meeting, in order to allow an additional delegation for the current meeting.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council, pursuant to section 1.7 of the Council and Committee Procedure Bylaw, No. 3945, temporarily suspend the delegation limit set out in section 7.7 for the current meeting.

6.2.4

Karen Brandt, Mosaic Forest Management regarding Raw Log Exports

Purpose: For Karen Brandt, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Partnerships, and Nick Broekhuizen, Vice President Commercial, to present to Council regarding the proposed motion on raw log exports.

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

Municipal Fine and Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4051, 2026 for adoption

Purpose: To consider adoption of Municipal Fine and Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4051, 2026. If adopted, this bylaw will amend Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464, and Fees and Charges No. 3784, 2020, to include fine and fee updates related to the recently amended Fire Protection Bylaw.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council adopts Municipal Fine and Fees and Charges Amendment Bylaw No. 4051, 2026.

7.2

Business Licence Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 4058, 2026 for consideration

Purpose: To consider proposed amendments to Business Licence Bylaw No. 3153, 2002, following legal advice, which would permit conditions to be attached to the issuance of a Business Licence.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council:

  1. Gives third reading to Business Licence Amendment Bylaw 4058, 2026 – Option 2, as amended, and,
  2. Directs staff to provide notice of Council’s intent to consider Business Licence Amendment Bylaw No. 4058, 2026, by posting notice to the website, notice board and social media by April 24, 2026.

7.3

2026 Property Tax Rates Bylaw No. 4068, 2026 for introduction

Purpose: To introduce 2026 Property Tax Rates Bylaw No. 4068, 2026, which establishes the tax rates per property class for 2026 for first three readings.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council

  1. gives first, second and third readings to Property Tax Rates Bylaw No. 4068, 2026 Option 1; and,
  2. Schedule an electronic Special Council meeting on April 21, 2026, at 4:00 pm to adopt Property Tax Rates Bylaw No. 4068, 2026.

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

Supply and Delivery of Fuel Products

Purpose: To authorize the execution of a five-year agreement for the supply and delivery of gasoline, diesel, and related fuel products.

• Recommendation:

  THAT Council awards the contract for the supply and delivery of fuel products to 4Refuel Canada LP for a five-year term ending April 30, 2031, for an estimated cumulative amount of $2,225,000 including taxes.

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.

9.1

Fibre Security and Local Forest Jobs

Purpose: For Councillor Justice to move the motion that was introduced at the March 18, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council.

“WHEREAS Vancouver Island communities have experienced significant job losses in the forest sector, including curtailments and closures affecting facilities such as the Crofton Pulp and Paper Mill and the Chemainus Sawmill operated by Western Forest Products, with serious economic impacts on workers, families, and rural communities;

AND WHEREAS forestry workers, contractors, and manufacturing employees on Vancouver Island depend on a stable and affordable local fibre supply to sustain family-supporting jobs, resilient rural communities, and the long-term viability of sawmills, pulp and paper operations, and value-added wood manufacturing;

AND WHEREAS significant volumes of raw logs harvested from private managed forest lands continue to be exported without domestic processing, reducing the fibre available to support local manufacturing on Vancouver Island;

AND WHEREAS policies governing Crown timber already prioritize domestic processing, creating an opportunity to strengthen consistency in how fibre resources are managed across the forest sector;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council call on the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada to review and strengthen policies governing raw log exports from private managed forest lands on Vancouver Island, with the goal of improving fibre availability for domestic processing, supporting value-added wood manufacturing, and sustaining forestry employment in coastal communities.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Mayor be directed to write to the Premier of British Columbia, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Minister of Forests, the Minister of International Trade, the local MLA and MP, and any other relevant parties, requesting their support and action to strengthen policies that improve fibre availability for domestic processing and sustain a strong and competitive coastal forest sector.”

10.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS

This section includes notices of motions submitted by Members of Council for introduction only, discussion and debate of the motion shall occur at a future meeting. Introductory remarks or clarifying questions are not permitted at this time as per Council’s Notice of Motion Policy.

10.1

Oak & Vine Road Widening

Purpose: So that Councillor Findlay can provide the following motion to be considered at the May 6, 2026 Regular Council meeting:

“THAT Council rescinds the resolution to: "require shoulder pavement widening along Lakes Road in accordance with the recommendations of the Senior Manager of Transportation, to be completed to the satisfaction of the Engineering department prior to consideration of final adoption of zoning amendment" passed at the December 17, 2025 Regular Council meeting."

10.2

Oak & Vine Covenant Registration

Purpose: So that Councillor Findlay can provide the following motion to be considered at the May 6, 2026 Regular Council meeting.

“THAT Council rescinds the following resolution in relation to the Oak & Vine zoning application, that was passed at the January 21, 2026 Public and Statutory Hearing meeting:

THAT Council requires, as a condition of rezoning, a Section 219 Land Title Act covenant to be registered on title of the subject property and common property that restricts commercial assembly use on the subject property in the following ways:

1. 1. No more than 10 events per year with a maximum of 80 attendees at each event;
   2. That an event be limited to a 36-hour period;
   3. That a schedule of events is available in advance to neighbours
   4. That all amplified music will be contained behind closed doors of the assembly use building on the premises;
   5. That the event, including all music shall end at 11:00 pm with all attendees having vacated the premises by 11:30 pm;
   6. That the operator shall hold a valid business licence for the commercial assembly use; and
   7. That a Good Neighbour Agreement be in place.”

10.3

Updates to the Agricultural Advisory Committee’s Term

Purpose: So that Councillor Justice can provide the following motion to be considered at the May 6, 2026 Regular Council meeting.

“THAT the terms of the current Agricultural Advisory Committee (AgAC) members be extended for one year into the 2026–2029 Council term, expiring: November 30, 2027, recognizing that the Strategic Agricultural Plan review initiated in February 2026 is anticipated to be completed in fall 2027.”

11.

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.

12.

ADJOURNMENT

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