Municipality of North Cowichan
Committee of the Whole
AGENDA

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 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 2771 010 9135, and then enter the meeting password 1111.

---

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 AGENDA

Purpose: 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 July 15, 2025 and October 7, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting for adoption

• Recommendation:

  THAT the minutes of the meeting held July 15, 2025 and October 7, 2025 be adopted, as circulated.

4.

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.

5.

PRESENTATIONS AND DELEGATIONS

5.1

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.

5.1.1

Royal Canadian Legion Chemainus Duncan Branch #191

Purpose: David Nielsen, David Scandrett and David Goddard of the Royal Canadian Legion Chemainus Duncan Branch to present to Council regarding the recent amalgamation of the two branches.

5.1.2

Jim Dias, Request to Remedy the Large Project Fee

Purpose: For Jim Dias to present to Council on behalf of LeeAnne and Ken Nickell regarding the Large Project Fee to be imposed on a proposed OCP Amendment.

6.

UNFINISHED AND POSTPONED BUSINESS

This section includes matters that have been postponed to a certain time or referred to staff, a committee or some other organization or person, and shall be placed under this section when the matter is returned to Council for consideration.

6.1

Analysis of the Large Project Surcharge for OCP Amendments

Purpose: To present options regarding the Large Project Surcharge (LPS) for Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (2020). Council report from the November 5, 2025 Council meeting is attached for reference.

[As referred from the November 5, 2025 Regular Council Meeting]

6.2

Bill 44 Compliance: OCP Amendment Bylaw 4040 for first and second readings

Purpose: For Council to continue discussion of OCP Amendment Bylaw 4040 with the intent of aligning Official Community Plan (OCP) policy text to reflect updated housing targets. Council report from the October 15, 2025 Council meeting is attached for reference.

[As referred from the October 15, 2025 Regular Council Meeting]

7.

STAFF REPORTS

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

7.1

2026 Grant-in-Aid

To review the 2026 Grant-in-Aid applications and provide recommendations on which grants should be approved, along with the suggested funding amounts.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommend that Council approve grant-in-aid amounts for 2026 as follows:

  (1)B.C. Forest Discovery Centre - BC Forest Museum $25,000

  (2)Chemainus & District Chamber of Commerce $30,000

  (3)Chemainus Valley Historical Society $8,500

  (4)Cowichan Historical Society $5,500

  (5)Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce $34,000

  (6)Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association $38,600

  (7)Chemainus BIA. - Flower Baskets $24,000

  (8)Chemainus Theatre Festival Society $20,000

  (9)Chemainus Cemetery (St. Michael’s and All Angels Church) $1,000 to offset water and garbage fees

  (10) Chemainus Communities in Bloom $[__________insert amount here]

  (11) BC Conservation Foundation $[__________insert amount here]

  (12) Chemainus Community Schools Association – Tree Eagle $[__________insert amount here]

  (13) Clements Center Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (14) Community Circles Restorative Justice Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (15) Community Land Trust $[__________insert amount here]

  (16) Cowichan Agricultural Society and Farmers' Institute $[__________insert amount here]

  (17) Cowichan Brain Injury Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (18) Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (19) Cowichan Valley Independent Living $[__________insert amount here]

  (20) Cowichan Valley Youth Services $[__________insert amount here]

  (21) Foster Kritters Feral Cat Rescue Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (22) Grace Kidz Thrift Store $[__________insert amount here]

  (23) House of Grace Pregnancy Centre $[__________insert amount here]

  (24) Cowichan - Bring Back Bluebirds $[__________insert amount here]

  (25) Nourish Cowichan Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (26) Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (27) Take-a-Hike Foundation $[__________insert amount here]

  (28) Cowichan Historical Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (29) Cowichan Valley Performing Arts Foundation $[insert amount here]

  (30) Chemainus Rotary Club $[__________insert amount here]

  (31) Cowichan Valley Arts Council $[__________insert amount here]

  (32) Cowichan Folk Guild $[__________insert amount here]

  (33) Chemainus Valley Historical Society $[__________insert amount here]

  (34) Maple Bay Community Association $[__________insert amount here]

  (35) Somenos Community Association $[__________insert amount here]

  (36) Vimy Community Club (Hall) $[__________insert amount here]

  (37) Cowichan Rugby Club $[__________insert amount here]

7.2

2026 Budget Update

To provide Council with information on the draft 2026 – 2030 financial plan, the cost drivers, the potential service reductions, and the implications and to seek Council’s direction on how to proceed with the 2026 budget process.

• Recommendation:

  THAT the Committee of the Whole recommend to Council to:

  1. Remove the 0.5% of taxation contribution to the Climate Action and Energy Program for the 2026 budget;
  2. Remove summer students from the 2026 budget;
  3. Reduce Council travel by 50% in 2026 budget;
  4. Reduce Council’s contribution to capital by [insert amount] in the 2026 budget;
  5. Reduce grant-in-aids in the 2026 budget by [insert amount];
  6. Reduce permissive tax exemptions in the 2027 budget;
  7. Reduce First Nations Initiative funding in the 2026 budget by [insert amount];
  8. Utilize [insert amount] of unappropriated surplus in the 2026 budget to offset taxation;
  9. Increase business license fees from $100 to $150 for the 2026 budget;
  10. Direct staff to research increasing building inspection fees relative to other jurisdictions;
  11. Increase rental rates for municipally owned properties, where applicable;
  12. Introduce a $2.00 paper fee for utility bills starting in 2026;
  13. Include $40,000 in the 2026 budget for safety software;
  14. Include $100,000 in the 2026 budget for audio/visual upgrades to Council chambers;
  15. Include $95,000 in the 2026 budget for a Digital Media Field Technician and $200,000 for software costs and implementation at the RCMP Detachment;
  16. Include $168,000 in the 2026 budget for two (2) Reader/Reviewer positions at the RCMP Detachment;
  17. Include $50,000 in the 2026 budget to conduct a procurement review;
  18. Include $130,000 in the 2026 budget for a FireSmart Coordinator;
  19. Include $100,000 in the 2026 budget for a Community Wildfire plan;
  20. Increase the capital allocation for the Fire Department from $120,000 to $180,000 in the 2026 budget;
  21. Include $100,000 in the 2026 budget for a live fire training building;
  22. Increase the Fire Equipment reserve by [insert amount] in the 2026 budget
  23. Include the acquisition of land for a new South End Fire Hall not to exceed $2,000,000 in the 2026 budget from the Land Sale Reserve;
  24. Include $500,000 for a 5-Year Forest Management Strategy plan in the 2026 budget;
  25. Include $100,000 for Asset Management software in the 2026 budget;
  26. Include $51,960 for the Asset Manager position from August to December in the 2026 budget;
  27. Allocate $400,000 or 1% of taxation in the 2026 budget to the Infrastructure reserve;
  28. Include $234,806 in the 2026 budget for two (2) additional bylaw officers;
  29. Include $150,000 in the 2026 budget for street clean-up related to the unhoused population;
  30. Include $15,000 in the 2026 budget for portable washrooms for the unhoused population;
  31. Include $25,000 in the 2026 budget to conduct a business license review;
  32. Include $97,244 in the 2026 budget to change the part time public spaces custodians to full time;
  33. Include $807,984 in the 2026 budget to create a Mobile Inegrated response Unit team;
  34. Include $20,242 to the Cemetery reserve in the 2026 budget for the implementation of the Cemetery Master Plan;
  35. Include $50,000 in the 2026 budget for cemetery management software;
  36. Reallocate $200,000 from the Richard's Trail parking lot capital project into a dedicated reserve preparing for turf replacement at Sherman Road soccer field in the 2026 budget;
  37. Include $110,000 in the 2026 budget for a full-time carpenter;
  38. Include $450,000 in the 2026 budget for the Maple Bay Rowing Club roof replacement;
  39. Include $590,000 in the 2026 budget for the Maple Bay Fire Hall roof replacement;
  40. Include $25,000 in the 2026 budget for a new Public Works Yard washdown area;
  41. Include $40,000 in the 2026 budget for paving at Crofton Boat launch;
  42. Include $2,000,000 in the 2026 capital budget for the Maple Bay Wharf replacement;
  43. Include $42,000 for first nation, veteran and pride crosswalks within North Cowichan;
  44. Include $100,000 in the 2026 capital budget for the Chemainus Salt Shed; and,
  45. Include $150,000 in the 2026 budget for background work on the Bell-Mckinnon Local Area Plan implementation.

7.3

BMLAP Implementation – Project Update

To provide an update on Bell McKinnon Local Area Plan (BMLAP) implementation.

• Recommendation:

  That the Committee of the Whole receives the report for information.

8.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

9.

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.

10.

ADJOURNMENT

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